Yours For The Making with Robin Johnson

Robin Johnson sits down with furniture maker and designer Simon Thomas Pirie to discuss the reality of building a long term creative business in Britain. Simon shares his journey from studying fine art and discovering woodworking through Hook Park, to running a respected bespoke furniture workshop in Dorset for nearly three decades. The conversation explores furniture design, apprenticeships, CNC technology, kitchens, direct client work, workshop culture, scaling a creative business, and the pressure of balancing craftsmanship with commercial survival. Simon also reflects on leadership, hiring the right people, working with architects and interior designers, and why British furniture making struggles without proper industrial support.
Key Topics Covered
Building a bespoke furniture business from scratch
Hook Park and the influence of John Makepeace
Fine art, furniture design, and creative career paths
The reality of running a small workshop business
Why direct client relationships matter
Kitchens versus freestanding furniture projects
CNC machines and modern furniture production
Hiring apprentices and training young makers
Workshop culture and team dynamics
Expanding into larger workshop spaces
British furniture making versus European manufacturing
Creative burnout and staying inspired after 30 years
Garden bench production and Chelsea Flower Show
Working with architects and interior designers
Legacy, craftsmanship, and long term creative work

Enjoying the show?
Leave a review, follow us, and share the episode with a fellow maker. New episodes every week with artists, designers, craftsmen and creators from around the world.
Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson — founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop — this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.
Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.
Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Key Moments:
00:00 Growing up around woodworking
01:41 Discovering furniture making
02:48 Learning at Hook Park
05:20 Teaching furniture design
08:25 Starting the workshop
10:14 The struggle of solo makers
11:30 Kitchens and commercial projects
16:30 Design influences and style
21:50 Expanding the workshop
26:36 CNC technology and production
31:42 Workshop culture and apprentices
50:45 Problems with creative education
58:59 Becoming a furniture maker
01:02:57 Bespoke furniture versus products
01:08:03 Recycled timber projects
01:09:02 Advice to his younger self

Robin Johnson sits down with sisters Clara and Rose Prince to discuss studying furniture making and textile design, navigating creative careers, and building a future in craft. Clara studies furniture making at West Dean College while Rose focuses on weaving and textiles at Chelsea College. They speak openly about the realities of creative education, student debt, apprenticeships, networking, exhibitions, and the pressure of entering industries where practical skills matter more than academic status. The conversation also explores collaboration, British manufacturing, women in craft industries, and why hands on work still matters in a digital world.

Key Topics Covered:
Studying furniture making at West Dean College
Learning weaving and textile design at Chelsea College
Women entering male dominated craft industries
Networking and building industry relationships through exhibitions
Starting a creative career after university
The reality of running a craft business
Creative collaboration between furniture and textiles
The financial pressure of university and student debt
Why apprenticeships deserve more attention
British manufacturing and sustainable production
Using textiles to support dementia care and cognitive health
Balancing creative ambition with practical industry experience

Enjoying the show?
Leave a review, follow us, and share the episode with a fellow maker. New episodes every week with artists, designers, craftsmen and creators from around the world.
Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson — founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop — this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.
Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.
Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Key Moments:
00:00 Introduction to Clara and Rose Prince
00:43 Growing up in a creative and hands on family
02:22 Women entering furniture making and textile design
04:48 Supporting each other through creative education
05:53 Exhibitions and presenting work publicly
07:56 How university prepares students for industry
09:32 Plans after graduation and gaining industry experience
12:19 Collaboration ideas and future business ambitions
17:52 Balancing business goals with personal ambitions
21:43 Family influence and inherited craftsmanship
22:54 The cost of university and creative education
23:10 Apprenticeships versus university pathways
26:31 Textiles, dementia care, and cognitive health
29:23 British manufacturing and preserving craft industries
46:48 Advice to their younger selves

Robin Johnson speaks with Oliver Chalk, a self taught wood turner who rebuilt his career during the pandemic by following curiosity rather than a fixed plan. Starting with climbing holds and basic tools, Oliver moved into large scale sculptural woodwork, developing his own techniques through repetition and failure. He explains why surface, texture, and emotional response drive his work, how investing in the right tools changed his trajectory, and why process matters more than outcome when building a creative career.

Key Topics Covered
Learning wood turning without formal training
Building skill through experimentation and repetition
Importance of investing in professional tools and maintaining them
Developing a recognisable style through surface and texture
Working with large scale timber and physical challenges
Using natural materials for sustainability and longevity
Creative philosophy focused on process and self expression
Balancing risk, safety, and creativity in the workshop
Why failure drives progress and skill development

Enjoying the show?
Leave a review, follow us, and share the episode with a fellow maker. New episodes every week with artists, designers, craftsmen and creators from around the world.
Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson — founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop — this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.
Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.
Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Key Moments:
00:00 Introduction to Oliver Chalk and his wood turning work
00:46 Pandemic career shift and early experimentation
02:11 Learning wood turning through trial and error
06:57 Discovering surface texture and creative direction
09:30 Investing in tools and committing to the craft
10:10 Working with large scale timber and safety awareness
18:09 Moving from turning to sculptural carving techniques
22:49 Creative philosophy and finding purpose through making
29:21 Creativity as problem solving and pushing limits
34:23 Process over product and emotional connection to work
39:27 Exhibitions, galleries, and building a career
53:27 Advice on failure and continuous improvement

Robin Johnson speaks with Ben Goldsmith from Design Woodcraft Ltd about building a timber and furniture business without a clear plan. Ben started with no tools, no strategy, and no formal direction, then grew the company through consistent work and curiosity. The conversation focuses on how the business developed into a sustainable operation, milling its own timber, tracking carbon impact, and working with high profile hospitality clients. This episode gives a grounded view of how a creative business can grow through action rather than planning, and where that approach creates both opportunity and limitations.

Key Topics Covered:
Starting a business with no plan or formal training
Moving from kitchen work into woodworking and furniture making
How Design Woodcraft Ltd grew through trial and consistency
Building a sustainable timber supply chain from log to finished product
Milling timber, air drying processes, and cost advantages
Carbon tracking and creating low impact furniture products
Working with hospitality clients and high end restaurants
Why word of mouth growth limits scale
The challenge of marketing a craft based business
Creating recurring revenue through maintenance services
Plans to expand workshop capacity and increase turnover

Enjoying the show?
Leave a review, follow us, and share the episode with a fellow maker. New episodes every week with artists, designers, craftsmen and creators from around the world.
Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson — founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop — this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.
Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.
Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Key Moments:
00:00 Introduction to Ben Goldsmith and Design Woodcraft Ltd
02:47 Starting with no tools and no clear plan
07:52 Years of operating without strategy or structure
14:27 Carbon tracking and sustainability in furniture production
23:01 Milling timber and cost advantages
26:00 Full control of supply chain from log to product
29:54 Limits of word of mouth growth
37:23 Creating a recurring revenue service model
41:03 Challenges with marketing and content
1:00:49 Advice on creativity and exploration

Robin Johnson speaks with Paul Drake from JDO Ltd, a global branding agency working with brands such as Dove and Shell, to break down how branding actually works. This conversation focuses on emotional response, visual identity, and why strong brands win attention and trust. Paul explains how design influences perception, how storytelling drives value, and why consistency matters more than originality in many cases. They also examine the real impact of AI on creative industries, from branding and product design to customer experience.

Key Topics Covered
How global brands build emotional connection through design
Why branding is about psychology not just visuals
The role of storytelling in premium product positioning
How distinctive shapes and visual cues drive brand recognition
Case study of luxury packaging and high value products
The real process behind building a brand identity
How AI is changing branding, design, and creative work
Practical use of AI in engineering, product development, and training
The balance between human creativity and automation
Career advice for entering branding, design, and creative industries

Enjoying the show?
Leave a review, follow us, and share the episode with a fellow maker. New episodes every week with artists, designers, craftsmen and creators from around the world.
Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson — founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop — this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.
Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.
Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Key Moments:
00:00 Introduction to Paul Drake and global branding work
01:11 How branding projects begin and how agencies build brand identity
02:05 Career path into branding and design industry
03:00 Emotional response and how brands influence perception
05:12 Why storytelling drives value in creative work
07:33 Brand consistency and why it builds long term trust
10:39 Visual cues, shapes, and consumer behaviour
12:36 Case study of Mermaid gin and packaging design success
16:30 Building a global branding agency and creative partnerships
19:43 What makes a product visually distinctive
23:06 Designing furniture and creating a recognisable style
27:04 The economics of design, production, and scalability
31:58 CAD, CNC, and technical challenges in manufacturing
36:41 AI in design and the future of creative industries
41:55 Automation, jobs, and the future of work
44:34 Can AI replace creativity and brand thinking
49:03 Limits of AI in product design and real world application
53:05 AI in engineering and medical innovation
57:08 Technology as a tool to extend human capability
1:03:08 Human interaction versus automation in daily life
1:10:21 How to get into branding and design careers
1:28:15 Advice for younger self and building confidence