In this episode of Yours for the Making Robin Johnson speaks with furniture designer Sam Kille about his route from military service into bespoke furniture making. Sam explains how carpentry and joinery in the Royal Engineers shaped his discipline precision and approach to craft. He talks openly about running a furniture business with a partner, stepping away during Covid, and returning with a clearer sense of direction.

The conversation covers Scandinavian and Japanese influences, heirloom quality furniture, and the realities of selling bespoke work in the UK. Sam also discusses pricing honestly, choosing the right clients, diversifying income through kitchen work, and why furniture should last generations. This episode offers a grounded view of what it takes to build a sustainable furniture practice without shortcuts.

Key Topics Covered

1. Moving from the military into furniture making
2. Carpentry and joinery as a foundation skill
3. Discipline precision and craft standards
4. Scandinavian and Japanese furniture influences
5. Building heirloom quality furniture
6. Running and closing a furniture partnership
7. Diversifying income through kitchens and joinery
8. Selling bespoke furniture in the UK market
9. Pricing work realistically
10. Choosing clients carefully
11. Long term value of quality furniture
12. Apprenticeships traditional skills and teaching
13. Work life balance and four day working
14. Identity ownership and returning to furniture making

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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 Sam Kille and his background

01:10 Military training and carpentry trade

02:38 Starting a furniture business with a partner

03:39 Closing the business and stepping away

04:29 Design influences and visual...

In this episode of Yours for the Making Robin Johnson speaks with South London furniture designer Laurent Peacock about his route from industrial design into bespoke furniture making. Laurent explains why mass production left him cold and how working directly with wood gave him clarity and purpose. He talks openly about earning the Guild Mark and the validation it brought both personally and professionally.

The conversation explores the tension between form and function in contemporary furniture design, the pressure to build a recognisable style, and the reality of making work that must last as well as look right. Laurent also shares his discomfort with self promotion, his approach to exhibitions, and why tactility and physical interaction sit at the centre of his work. This episode offers a clear and honest view of what it takes to build a sustainable practice in high quality furniture making.

Key Topics Covered

1. Moving from industrial design to furniture making
2. The role of wood as a tactile and approachable material
3. Achieving the Guild Mark and what it represents
4. Validation skill and confidence in craft
5. Building a network within the woodworking community
6. The gap between functional furniture and art furniture
7. Balancing form function and longevity
8. The challenge of storytelling in furniture design
9. Exhibitions galleries and visibility
10. Promoting work without compromising values
11. Developing a recognisable creative identity
12. Tactility interaction and physical engagement with furniture

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 Laurent Peacock and his background

00:34 Early fascination with making and design

02:20 Industrial design and dissatisfaction with mass production

03:31 Discovering furniture making and working with wood

05:10 Submitting work for the Guild Mark

06:45 Validation confidence and opening...

This episode of Yours for the Making dives deep into the world of chainsaw sculptor Ella Fielding. Her story offers a clear view of how creativity takes shape when instinct, physical craft and neurodiversity come together. Robin Johnson talks with Ella about her early start in sculpture, the impact of dyslexia and ADHD on her creative thinking, and her discovery of a fast and intuitive way of working with wood.

Ella explains the emotional experience of carving fallen trees for clients, the practical challenges of working with different timbers and the therapeutic presence she feels when cutting. She also explores the flaws of traditional education, the value of hands-on learning, the influence of play, and the importance of making without the pressure to display or impress. This is a grounded and honest conversation that celebrates the maker mindset and the spirit of curiosity that drives creative work.

Key Topics Covered

Ella’s journey into sculpture and chainsaw carving

The impact of dyslexia and ADHD on creative problem solving

Limitations of traditional art education and the value of practical learning

The importance of play in early creativity

Mindfulness through physical craft and focused making

Working with different types of wood and the challenges each one presents

How personal stories and environments shape commissioned pieces

The emotional role of tree carving and honouring fallen trees

Social media use for creative community building

Building confidence in handmade work without public pressure

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 Ella and her unique creative path

00:52 Discovering chainsaw carving during her sculpture degree

04:30 Finding confidence through fast and instinctive making

05:47 The uncertainty of a career in fine art

09:19 Ella leaves school at 14 and discovers hands on learning

13:02 Discussion on the flaws in the education system

18:26 Creativity, play and permission to fail

20:51 The joy and discovery that happens through making

21:10 How the tree itself shapes the final sculpture

23:19 The emotional process of carving fallen trees

25:48 How Ella designs commissions that reflect people and place

26:24 The influence of neurodiversity on her creative life

33:34 The sensory link between materials and creativity

36:50 The importance of making without public pressure

40:20 Mindfulness and presence in chainsaw carving

43:37 The role of surfing and making in mental clarity

48:51 Working with different types of wood

52:18 Respect for ancient trees and the emotional impact of loss

55:38 Public commissions and where to see Ella’s work

57:22 Social media and creative