Making a living out of creating coffins may not be the most cheerful of occupations.

But for Andy Clarke it is a labour of love.

Andy, 48, of Beacon Oak Road, Tenterden, has set up Wealden Coffins, making a unique curved coffin which can have personalised decoration.

The former marketing manager with an investment firm in London came up with the idea while commuting.

“I have been to a few funerals and found them rather austere and flat, when they should be a celebration of a person’s life,” he said.

“I saw an article about someone who made a bespoke coffin, and thought there was very little choice of coffins for people.

“The idea of a curved design came to me and I started sketching it out on the train going to and from London.

“I wanted to get away from the hard edges of a traditional coffin.”

A prototype was built in the kitchen of Andy and his artist partner Holly Bridgestock-Perris.

At the beginning of the year, he jacked in his job and now makes the curve coffins full-time from his workshop in Sandhurst.

“I was not getting job satisfaction before,” he said. “I enjoy making things and get satisfaction from it.

“I am creating a beautiful work of art, not just a box for someone to be buried in. The coffins are lovingly made from sustainable wood using traditional craftmanship.”

The coffins can be supplied as they come or can be decorated by Holly. So far the couple have come up with a tree of life and daisy designs, but can do more or less whatever a client wants.

None have been sold yet, although Andy said there had been good feedback from an article in The Good Funeral Guide.

For more information go to www.wealdencoffins.co.uk