S2 EP4: Talking Materials - Leila Smith

In this bonus episode of Out of the Woodwork Sean talks to Alan Styles, Managing Director of Axminster Tools and his predecessor, Ian Styles, his uncle. This year marks Axminster Tools’ 50th year, which has seen it grow over the years from a small independent high street tool shop, to a global mail order and online retailer, with 8 stores UK wide. Woodwork continues to sit at the heart of what they do, striving to support the creative community by offering the products they need, the knowledge they trust and the committed service they deserve. 

In this episode, Sean talks to woodworker and online content creator Matt Estlea. Matt has forged himself a successful career on YouTube creating inspiring videos teaching invaluable woodworking techniques, with his unique style winning him hundreds and thousands of fans. His website is packed full of information as well as project plans and tools.

In this episode Sean talks to Iranian craftsman Abdollah Nafisi. Abdollah specialises in making one-off commissions, that fuse both modern and heritage craftsmanship, from his studio in Sussex. With spontaneity, playfulness and improvisation at the core of his work.  Letting go and having no fear as a maker is one of the things that excites Abdollah - pushing boundaries while also exploring and maintaining the tradition of the craft. 

In this episode, Sean talks to materials based artist Leila Smith. Often described as a metal worker, Leila is very much a woodworker at heart. Her love of materials exudes through her installation art and sculpture work and she is passionate about the exploration of materials and what materials can teach us. As well as an artist, Leila enjoys a successful and varied career as a set builder for television, film and festivals.

In this episode I talk to Joseph Bray, furniture designer, maker, educator and Head of Wood School at The Sylva Foundation. Joe shares how his concerns for the future of craft education became the catalyst for a successful Churchill Fellowship and how his Fellowship experiences continue to shape The Sylva Wood School; bridging the gap between education and professional life as well as finding ways to promote the use of under utilised home grown timbers.

In this episode of Out of the Woodwork, Sean talks to Dorset based designer and maker, Alice Blogg. Alice’s contemporary designs are inspired by spaces and places. She is deeply interested in aesthetics and function and how things are used, which forms the basis of her work. She enjoys working with materials that come from the ground and go back to the ground - something that is particularly important to her; making use of the beautiful English timber literally at her feet. 

In this episode of Out of the Woodwork, Sean talks to artist, maker and YouTuber, Nick Zammeti. Nick loves to make and create stuff from nothing, but most of all he loves to entertain and inspire, encouraging anyone and everyone to get making. Subscribe now for notification of all podcast episodes.

In this episode in the series of Out of the Woodwork, Sean Evelegh talks to renowned Designer and Craftsman Sebastian Cox. Sebastian’s passion for sustainability is channelled through his London based design studio and workshop, with his furniture and homeware designed and made with, what he describes as, a ‘nature-first perspective’.

This week on Out of the Woodwork, Sean Evelegh talks to one of Axminster Tools’ very own woodturning professionals, Colwin Way about his passion for woodturning. What started as a hobby has now turned into a career, taking him all over the world. Colwin can be found sharing this passion for turning on Axminster Tools’ YouTube channel week in, week out on Woodworking Wisdom Live.

In this episode of Out of the Woodwork, Sean Evelegh talks to renowned maker John Makepeace, about his illustrious career in furniture craft and design. His work has taken him around the world, working with numerous notable clients as a design consultant and producing a wealth of high end commissions.