A local, from Duns in the Scottish Borders, Louise Miller studied at a college in Kirkcaldy before building her skills while working other jobs.
“The course I went on at Kirkcaldy was about 50:50 men: women, but I think I’m the only woman in the class who went on to do something with it, professionally. But that was always my intention.”
Having bought timber from Real Wood Studios, she asked about “bench space,” a space in the studio just for the maker. After seeing her portfolio, the makers offered her a space.
“I thought I’d start my own business and make little things to put in local shops and start that way. But they chucked me in the deep end and said ‘we’ve got a customer that’s just come in’”
“I thought, there’s no way I can do that for a big customer, but they were all supportive, ‘we will help you out if you need anything’. I did a couple of designs, and before I showed the client, I showed Alasdair and another maker who was here at the time. They talked me through a few things and how to make the best use of the machines for the design. That first big job was for five side tables in ash and oak”.
The team-working is something that Louise values, as is the sustainability of the operations.
“I love the fact that everything is locally sourced here. At the time, the closest place was way up past Edinburgh.
The fact that I could say that this was felled on a farm just outside Kelso. It appeals to the clients as well. They love the fact that they can find out where it is from.
Seeing the clients’ faces when they have the final piece in their home – it’s a beautiful thing! They feel like they are part of the journey. I send pictures to my clients at different stages of the make and invite them into the Studios if they want to come in and see the progress of it.”
Louise recently received two visits at the Studios that took her back to her beginnings…
“Real Wood Studios organised a visit from my college more recently, and it was nice to see the teachers, they were chuffed, telling the students about where I am now.
Quite often, as makers, we forget how special it is here, and when you get people with a love for wood, they come in and it’s like a treasure trove. It inspires them to look at a piece of timber and think about what they want to do with it.
“Last week, a customer came in, they said they came in a decade ago or so, and said they had a table made by a female designer, and they have come back for another table. So, I must be doing something right.
With ten years more experience, I am bringing all of that to this second table for that same customer”.