Robert Stubbs Dolls Houses
Dolls houses in a Tudor style.
When did you start making? I really started into Dollhouse after training with Robert Stubbs in 2012. Before this I was doing carving, wood turning as a hobby.
What inspired / inspires you? To create something which will be valued for years to come and will become an heirloom for some.
What was your first make? A Small Cottage, this was given to a shop in Wales.
If you sell at shows what do you like about that? The connection with visitors is invaluable in understanding their requirements, this helps me to improve and add new features to dolls houses for any future projects.
Where do you do your work? In the garden shed at the bottom of my garden. My wife always complains that I have taken over her storage place.
How long does it take you to make something? Depending on the size of the house it can take from one month to a year (sometimes even more!)
What special skills / tools / materials do you use? I use hand saws, chisels, gauges, scroll saw, table saw and all the usual woodworking tools. There is no specialist tools or materials, it’s all available from DIY shops. I use several different types of hardwoods such as Oak, Sapele, Beech, Walnut, Pear or Lime which are then hand cut and carved for the house.
Any funny stories? On one occasion I hadn’t sold much at an exhibition and I was packing up as the show had finished. A lady appeared at the very last minute and purchased one of my large houses on the spot and then ordered one more. That made my day.
What research do you need to do? I get my inspiration from real houses across the UK, some have nice windows, fronts, characters and I try to replicate this in a miniature form. I also go through old books and paintings to see houses from history which no longer exist. I have undergone courses with the V&A museum to better understand the Tudor period, how people lived and how the construction of houses evolved.
What other craftspeople do you admire? I don’t have to look far for an inspiration, Rob and Renee Stubbs are great motivators and their work inspires and amazes me. Rob is a rich source of ideas and has created many great items, this is awe inspiring and a challenge for me to follow his path of excellence. There are several other inspirational figures across the miniature world including Bob & Doreen Vincent (Country Contrast), Ray Storey, Gary and Heidi Masters, David Hurley and many others who have attended Miniatura in the past.
