Monique Lucas is the founder and presenter of The New Makers TV, a YouTube series dedicated to telling the stories of British makers, craftspeople and independent creative businesses. After working across interiors, homeware, textiles and content, Monique created The New Makers to give craftspeople a platform to show how their work is actually made and why it matters.

In this episode of Yours for the Making, Robin Johnson and Monique explore the changing world of British craft, the realities of running a maker led business and the growing desire for handmade products as AI and mass production accelerate. Monique shares why understanding materials and production can help people make more intentional purchasing decisions, while the conversation tackles greenwashing, sustainability, social media, influencer culture and the pressure on makers to become content creators.

Monique also reveals how The New Makers grew from fewer than 100 views per episode to one video reaching 54,000 views, and why patience, conviction and enjoying the creative process matter when building an audience online.

Key Topics Covered

✦ Why Monique Lucas created The New Makers TV to champion British makers and craftspeople

✦ The renewed interest in handmade products and endangered British crafts

✦ Why makers are expected to create, photograph, film and market their own work

✦ Understanding the true value and price of handmade products

✦ Greenwashing, sustainable materials and intentional consumption

✦ How social media can help independent makers build viable businesses

✦ The dangers of comparison, influencer culture and chasing algorithms

✦ Growing a YouTube series from fewer than 100 views to 54,000 views

Watch The Makers TV here:

https://www.youtube.com/@thenewmakerstv

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.

Check out Yours For The Making in YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUuzYPW_uJfM2B1XXRuZLUg

Key Moments:

0:00 Introducing Monique Lucas and The New Makers TV

01:59 Why Monique created a platform for British makers

03:26 Building and self funding a YouTube series

04:40 How childhood shaped Monique’s connection to home and design

08:42 The growing pressure on makers to become content creators

10:49 Capturing the real stories and processes behind handmade work

14:20 Why AI could drive people back towards traditional craft

18:09 Why handmade products cost more and understanding their true value

23:40 Greenwashing and the problem with sustainability labels

29:07 Why creative careers rarely follow a straight path

34:27 The creative careers young people rarely hear about

37:15 How social media can turn craft into a viable career

41:40 The problems with influencer culture and unrealistic lifestyles

48:24 Escaping comparison and the pressure of the algorithm

51:59 How The New Makers grew from 100 views to 54,000 views

Interior designer Christian Bense joins Robin Johnson to explore how thoughtful interior design balances architecture, art, history and the personality of the people who live there. Christian shares his journey from South Africa to London, launching Christian Bense Interior Studio shortly before Covid and building a practice recognised by House & Garden. He explains why his studio avoids a fixed house style, how contemporary and traditional interiors can coexist, and why art, proportion, composition and architectural detail matter more than following trends.

The conversation also explores designing period properties, creating interiors with longevity, managing residential projects from concept to completion and building a creative business without losing involvement in the work. Christian discusses plans for a furniture collection centred on timeless staple pieces, the thinking behind his interior design platform The Basic Principle, and the lessons learned from 14 years in the industry.

Key Topics Covered

✦ Christian Bense’s journey from South Africa to becoming a London interior designer

✦ Building Christian Bense Interior Studio and gaining industry recognition

✦ Why the studio deliberately avoids a signature house style

✦ Combining traditional architecture with contemporary interior design

✦ Using art to create personal, characterful and layered homes

✦ Restoring character and respecting the history of period properties

✦ Designing timeless furniture instead of following interior trends

✦ Building a creative career while learning to enjoy the process

Check out Christian Bense Studio via:

https://www.christianbense.com/

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.

Check out Yours For The Making in YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUuzYPW_uJfM2B1XXRuZLUg

Key Moments:

00:00 Christian Bense’s 14 year journey in interior design

03:40 Leaving business studies to pursue interior design

06:15 The Somerset project that changed his approach to design

08:15 Why Christian Bense Studio has no house style

11:20 Designing homes around art and personal taste

14:20 How clients develop their own art collections

18:50 Why Christian wants to keep his studio relatively small

21:20 The level of involvement clients can expect

23:30 Why clients should question familiar contractor relationships

25:15 Why Christian prefers independent architects and interior designers

29:40 Why bespoke design requires more time and a different pricing model

33:25 Respecting the history of period and listed properties

41:45 Christian’s plans for timeless furniture and interior products

45:45 The Basic Principle and explaining why good interior design works

49:25 The advice Christian would give his 18 year old self

Robin Johnson sits down with woodwork artist Olly Fathers to explore how traditional marquetry, wood veneer and painstaking hand cutting become contemporary geometric art. Olly shares his path from studying fine art and working as an art technician to developing a full time studio practice with his wife, Emma. He explains how years spent installing major artworks, experimenting with woodworking and making art alongside freelance jobs shaped the artist he is today.

The conversation goes deep into Olly's creative process, including his use of bog oak dating to around 2500 BC, traditional marquetry techniques, geometric patterns, optical illusion, natural wood grain and heat shading. He reveals the extraordinary planning behind A Drop in Time, including 452 individually cut sections and an approach that turned the remaining veneer into additional artworks with almost zero waste.

Olly also opens up about pricing art, imposter syndrome, the risks of becoming fashionable too quickly and why he prefers a slow, steady creative career. He and Robin discuss the realities behind the art world, selling directly to collectors, working with galleries and interior designers, balancing creativity with business and why continually pushing into creative discomfort keeps the work developing.

Key Topics Covered

✦ How Olly Fathers developed his distinctive wood veneer and marquetry practice

✦ Moving from fine art and art installation into a full time creative career

✦ Creating geometric art through grain, colour, movement and optical illusion

✦ Making A Drop in Time from 4500 year old bog oak and 452 hand cut sections

✦ Turning veneer offcuts into new artworks and reducing material waste

✦ Pricing artwork, imposter syndrome and the business realities facing artists

✦ Why creative discomfort, experimentation and patience drive better work

✦ Selling art through collectors, consultants, galleries, interior designers and social media

Check out Olly’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/ollyfathers/?hl=en

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.

Check out Yours For The Making in YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUuzYPW_uJfM2B1XXRuZLUg

Key Moments:

00:00 Discovering Olly Fathers and his unusual approach to wood veneer art

04:21 Studying fine art and finding a love for making

07:33 Installing Picasso and Monet and learning inside the art world

09:34 Turning a one bedroom flat into a creative studio during Covid

13:09 What art school fails to teach about making a living as an artist

15:25 Pricing artwork, imposter syndrome and valuing creative work

17:17 How sudden success and inflated prices can damage an artist's career

20:06 Bauhaus, minimal art and the influences behind Olly's geometric work

23:03 Months of planning behind A Drop in Time

24:34 Creating art from bog oak dating to around 2500 BC

25:45 Hand cutting 452 individual veneer sections

26:53 How precision cutting created additional artworks with almost zero waste

30:41 Using traditional heat shading to transform wood veneer

44:32 Selling art directly through Instagram, collectors and consultants

52:43 The 4500 year story behind A Drop in Time

What makes a building work for the people who actually use it?

Robin Johnson sits down with Michael Westlake and Alex Taylor of Supervene Architects to explore architecture, masterplanning and the realities of designing places that have to work for generations. From the seven year route to becoming an architect to navigating budgets, planning, construction problems and the Building Safety Act, Michael and Alex reveal how much of architecture happens beyond the drawing board.

The conversation explores housing density, walkable neighbourhoods, urban regeneration and why good masterplanning depends on the spaces and connections between buildings. Michael and Alex discuss the regeneration of Aire Park in Leeds, the preservation of historic buildings, Sugar House Island, modern methods of construction and homes designed for dramatically better energy performance. They also examine AI in architecture, the future of cities and why technology works best as a tool for designers rather than a replacement for human judgement.

Key Topics Covered

✦ Why becoming a qualified architect takes at least seven years and why practical experience matters

✦ How budgets, constraints and construction problems can produce better architecture

✦ The Building Safety Act, Building Safety Regulator and challenges facing UK development

✦ Housing density, walkable neighbourhoods and building around existing infrastructure

✦ Masterplanning, urban regeneration, Aire Park and preserving architectural heritage

✦ Modern methods of construction and the potential for highly energy efficient homes

✦ Why buildings should be designed to adapt to different uses over generations

✦ AI in architecture, future cities and why designers still need human judgement

Check out their website:

https://www.supervenearchitects.com/

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.

Check out Yours For The Making in YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUuzYPW_uJfM2B1XXRuZLUg

Key Moments:

00:00 Why qualifying as an architect takes at least seven years

05:02 What architecture school cannot teach you about real buildings

08:47 Why relationships matter throughout the construction industry

15:28 Creating workplaces where people care about what they build

16:51 How mistakes and constraints make better designers

18:12 Why honest conversations about budgets need to happen early

22:37 How the Building Safety Act is affecting UK development

31:29 When regulation turns viable projects into difficult projects

33:45 Why good housing density can create better communities

39:28 Building homes around existing transport infrastructure

43:44 Inside the regeneration and masterplanning of Aire Park in Leeds

50:25 The architects reveal the projects they would love to design

53:09 Homes with exceptional energy performance built in days

59:02 What today's architecture will leave behind for future generations

01:06:57 AI, architects and the future of design

British session drummer and producer George Macdonald, known as G-Mac, joins Robin Johnson for a deeply personal conversation about life as a professional musician, leaving Kid Kapichi, creative identity, meditation, mental health, flow state and starting again. George traces his journey from discovering drums as a teenager in Hastings to touring the world, playing major venues and building a career through years of gigs, recording and sacrifice.

George opens up about the difficult decision to leave Kid Kapichi while the band was still growing, explaining how his musical direction and personal identity had gradually moved elsewhere. He reflects on the strange experience of achieving success while feeling increasingly disconnected from the person he was presenting to the world.

Robin and George also explore creativity, social media, the pressure to perform, manifestation, overthinking and creative flow. George explains why some of the strongest creative work happens when artists stop forcing ideas and become completely absorbed in the present moment.

Key Topics Covered

✦ How Hastings shaped George Macdonald as a drummer and musician

✦ The years of sacrifice behind Kid Kapichi's eventual success

✦ Why George chose to leave Kid Kapichi while the band was growing

✦ Losing his musical identity and dealing with anxiety after leaving

✦ Travelling through Nepal, India and Thailand and discovering Vipassana meditation

✦ Creativity, presence, flow state, manifestation and overthinking

✦ Social media, constant craving and the pressure to perform for other people

✦ George and Ben Beetham's plans to create an immersive new music project

Check out George’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/macdonald_george/?hl=en

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.

Check out Yours For The Making in YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUuzYPW_uJfM2B1XXRuZLUg

Key Moments:

00:00 George Macdonald on discovering drums and beginning his musical journey

03:15 How Hastings created a thriving community of musicians and live music

08:53 Musical intuition, improvisation and learning through playing with others

11:39 The years of sacrifice before Kid Kapichi began gaining momentum

15:19 Why George and Kid Kapichi started moving in different creative directions

17:28 Success, ego and feeling disconnected from his identity

20:34 The difficult aftermath of leaving the band

21:16 Anxiety, uncertainty and deciding to leave Britain for six months

24:27 Ten days of Vipassana meditation and how the practice changed him

26:58 The emotional moment George experienced in the Himalayas

33:29 Why social media keeps people craving the next thing

34:14 The pressure George felt to constantly perform and entertain

39:58 The exhausting reality of maintaining a public persona

48:34 Manifestation, creativity and allowing ideas to emerge naturally

54:51 George and Ben Beetham reveal plans to create music together again

Interior designer Nicky Percival joins Robin Johnson to explore what professional interior design really involves, from transforming Georgian country houses and period properties to managing builders, architects, budgets and complex renovation schedules.

Drawing on more than 35 years of design experience, including theatre design and television at the BBC, Nicky explains how she creates homes that feel natural, lived in and personal. Her approach combines antiques, vintage pieces, bespoke furniture and contemporary design while responding to the architecture and personality of each home.

Nicky shares how she draws ideas from clients who often struggle to visualise what they want, mediates between couples and tradespeople, and turns creative concepts into functional spaces. She explains why ergonomics, layout and practical usability come before decorative details, and why around 80% of an interior design project is spent making the design happen.

Key Topics Covered

✦ Nicky Percival's journey from interior design to theatre, BBC television and residential interiors

✦ Designing Georgian houses and period properties

✦ Creating natural, lived in interiors

✦ Managing architects, builders and tradespeople

✦ Why 80% of interior design is execution

✦ Using AI for photorealistic interior design renders

✦ Renovation budgets and contingency planning

✦ Traditional craftsmanship and modern technology

Check out Nicky Percival Design:

https://www.nickypercival.co.uk/

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.

Check out Yours For The Making in YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUuzYPW_uJfM2B1XXRuZLUg

Key Moments:

00:00 Nicky's career in interior design, theatre and BBC television

04:03 How theatre and television influenced her residential design work

06:00 Why Nicky avoids having a signature interior design style

09:41 Bringing a client's personality into their home

11:32 Mediating between couples and discovering what clients really want

14:35 Working with architects, builders, plumbers and other trades

20:13 The logistics behind successful home renovation projects

22:44 Why 80% of interior design is making the design happen

28:32 Creating an experience through interior design

30:48 Why functionality and ergonomics come first

33:53 What clients are paying an experienced interior designer for

38:09 CNC technology, traditional joinery and modern craftsmanship

40:22 How Nicky uses AI for photorealistic interior design renders

46:46 Managing renovation decision fatigue and client expectations

51:45 Why renovation projects need a 10% to 20% contingency

Master joiner Tom has spent more than 20 years developing the precision, problem solving and traditional skills behind bespoke joinery.

In this episode of Yours for the Making, Robin Johnson speaks with Tom Cottington about his journey from furniture restoration and demanding apprenticeships to complex architectural joinery at Johnson Bespoke. Tom shares lessons from restoring period furniture, learning traditional techniques and making costly mistakes that ultimately shaped his approach to craftsmanship.

They explore the precision behind staircases, doors, windows and furniture, the difference between carpentry and joinery, and the growing competition from mass produced CNC products.

It is a practical look at the skill, experience and resilience required to build bespoke work properly.

Key Topics Covered

✦ Tom Cottington’s journey into bespoke joinery

✦ Traditional furniture making and antique restoration

✦ What a demanding apprenticeship actually teaches

✦ Why problem solving is central to joinery

✦ The precision required to build staircases

✦ The difference between joinery and carpentry

✦ Traditional craftsmanship versus CNC production

✦ Why handmade joinery costs more

✦ Learning from mistakes and criticism

✦ The satisfaction of making complex work from start to finish

Check out Johnson Bespoke:

https://www.johnsonbespoke.co.uk/

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.

Check out Yours For The Making in YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUuzYPW_uJfM2B1XXRuZLUg

Key Moments:

00:00 Tom’s early obsession with making things

01:04 Furniture making, restoration and apprenticeships

07:47 The mistake that ruined a set of window sashes

12:14 Why joinery is 50 percent problem solving

18:25 Spending months learning to sand properly

19:41 Learning to build staircases

22:34 Why joiners mark timber with a knife

26:02 The three skills every complete joiner needs

27:26 Joinery versus carpentry explained

37:58 Competing with mass produced CNC joinery

41:30 Why Tom enjoys difficult projects

48:34 The appeal of complex bespoke work

55:57 Tom’s advice after 20 years in joinery

After 24 years in fashion, Sophie changed direction and built Côte de Folk from scratch, eventually earning recognition from House and Garden.

In this episode of Yours for the Making, Sophie Rowell joins Robin Johnson to discuss career reinvention, renovating period properties, working with architects and craftspeople, and designing homes around how people actually live. She also shares why renovation budgets need contingency, why she avoids photorealistic AI renders, and how trust creates space for original design.

Sophie also reveals the thinking behind Le Dot fabric, her playful fabric collection bringing colour, curves and personality into interiors.

Key Topics Covered

✦ Sophie Rowell's career change from fashion to interior design

✦ Building Côte de Folk from the first client to House and Garden recognition

✦ The three year transformation of The Red House

✦ Collaboration between designers, architects and craftspeople

✦ Why every renovation budget needs contingency

✦ Interior designers versus architects and where their roles differ

✦ Making existing spaces work harder instead of simply making them bigger

✦ Creating original interiors without copying Pinterest and magazines

✦ Why Sophie avoids photorealistic AI renders

✦ Building a small interior design studio around flexibility and collaboration

✦ Creating Le Dot fabric collection and bringing playfulness into interiors

Check out Sophie Rowell in Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/cotedefolk/

Check out Côte de Folk:

https://www.cotedefolk.com/

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.

Check out Yours For The Making in YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUuzYPW_uJfM2B1XXRuZLUg

Key Moments:

00:00 Sophie Rowell's 24 year career in fashion

01:48 The life change that pushed Sophie towards interior design

04:13 Landing her first client three weeks before her deadline

05:45 The Red House project that transformed her career

12:39 Why collaboration drives Côte de Folk's design process

20:27 Why renovation projects need contingency

30:10 Architects versus interior designers

32:33 Why bigger homes do not always work better

38:21 How Sophie develops an interior around the people living there

40:58 Why trust creates better design

43:45 Why Sophie refuses photorealistic AI renders

55:09 Why Sophie abandoned her goal of building a larger team

57:04 Creating Le Dot fabric collection

1:00:42 Sophie's advice to her 18 year old self