Tristram is a multi talented musician, instrument maker, artist and researcher who lives at Newcastle upon Tyne situated in the North East of England.

For many years he has been a regular performer upon the Celtic Harp at folk and music festivals throughout England, Wales and Ireland, as well as playing venues as far flung as Flanders, Austria and Western Australia performing upon instruments he has built himself. On past occasions he has been champion Irish harp player of Scotland and the Borders and Great Britain Fleadhs on five occasions, and finalist in the All Ireland and World Fleadh, also on five occasions. Featured playing the harp and a variety of keyboard instruments on recordings by several well known traditional musicians including Kathryn Tickell, George Welch, Jane Robson and Steve Turner, he was a recipient of the prestigious Goldsmith’s Travel Study Award in 1988.

A major part of Tristram’s work is taken up by building musical instruments including harps and harpsichords and it is through this means that he has been able to diversify the sounds he is able to produce in performance and in the recording studio. In particular, research into the Irish Harp over a long period of time led to his being awarded a Ph. D in Musicology from Durham University. His Thesis is entitled The Irish Harp in Art Music 1550-1650.

Tristram’s early training as an artist and sculptor have not been neglected. For many years he was an art teacher and also used his creative ability to great effect in decorating the instruments that he built, frequently using carving, painting, modeling, casting and gold leafing techniques. His work in this area of the visual arts has also included the design and making of Plaster Ceilings and Garden Sculptures. He has even been known to design record sleeves and illustrate publications.