BLOG.
Wood Craftsmanship: A Comparison of Design Influences in Japan and the UK
12th November 2016
This PDF contains the slides from my lecture, delivered at Osaka Institute of Technology, on 18th November 2016. The full text of the…
Japanese Wood Craftsmanship
25th April 2016
My Winston Churchill Memorial Fellowship report is finally complete. Click on the PDF icon below to access the full text. (It’s 3.7MB so please…
Open Studio 2016
5th April 2016
Dear Friends, At the end of last year I travelled to Japan, as a Winston Churchill Memorial Fellow, in order to research the…
Japan Blogpost no3. – In Search of Lightness
11th February 2016
A theme present in the philosophy of many of the makers I interviewed in Japan was a search for lightness in their work. Sometimes…
Japan Blog no2. – The Control of the Pull-Stroke
26th January 2016
It is well documented that Japanese tools are used largely on the pull stroke, rather than the western-favoured push stroke. Kanna (鉋),wooden bodied,…
Suda Kenji – Master Craftsman
13th January 2016
Suda Kenji is a woodworking genius, known for his incredibly intricate boxes. The boxes, quite small in size, are a treasure trove of…
Sōhō Katsushiro – Master of Bamboo
5th October 2015
It’s a few weeks before I leave for Japan, and I have been busy making contact with makers and artists who will be…
A study of Japan’s Unique Woodworking Culture
20th August 2015
In February this year I was awarded a Winston Churchill Memorial Fellowship in order to travel to Japan to research, document and report back…
Hugh Miller Furniture Look-Book 2015
15th August 2015
I’ve made a new Look-Book of my best pieces of furniture for the Celebration of Craftsmanship and Design exhibition in Cheltenham. I’ve attached…
The Folded Record Bureau
23rd August 2013
Made from a band of solid Iroko folded to form a low bureau, this piece is something a bit special. Set into…
The Folded Record Bureau: Making of….
18th August 2013
This piece, the Folded Record Bureau, is something I’ve been designing and revising for around a year, but I’ve only just found time…
Home/Office Storage Cabinets and Shelving
28th July 2013
This shelving and storage cabinet project was designed for a client in Warrington who needed more storage for her home/office study. The design…
Retro Cloak Room in Iroko
28th July 2013
This cloak room, constructed from solid Iroko, was designed like a retro sports locker room. The long bench provides a seat when getting…
Solid Oak Bureau
28th July 2013
This solid oak bureau was designed and handmade for a lady in Stockport, Manchester. The design features a large cabinet with fold down…
The Folded Backgammon Table
28th July 2013
The Folded Backgammon Table is the first piece in my furniture collection – The Fold. The table is formed from a band of…
Isosceles Dining Table
28th July 2013
This dining table, one of my favourite projects from last year, comprises a thick slab of Oak supported on an elegant, slender frame….
Cherry Hall Cabinet with Clock
28th July 2013
This hall cabinet, made in solid cherry, was designed to nestle under the stairs in an awkward space in the client’s home in…
Jewellery Cabinet Box in Oak and Walnut
2nd September 2012
I’ve just finished a really nice jewellery cabinet that has some nice details and which was a lot of fun to make. The…
Bespoke Architectural Joinery: Door Within A Door
29th July 2012
Last year I designed and built a a really exciting glass house in Chester. One of the best parts was a huge door…
The Fold: HM HandMade’s 1st Furniture Collection
21st June 2012
Recently, I’ve been designing some pieces of furniture for my first collection. I love designing and making furniture to commission, and I get…
Workshop Open Day 2012 at HM HandMade
17th June 2012
Last Sunday, it was the 2012 Workshop Open Day at HM HandMade. I like to have an event like this at least once…
Bespoke Handmade Wedding Gifts and Other Presents
3rd June 2012
Every year, around the end of spring, I get a lot of requests for smaller items to give as wedding, birthday, and anniversary…
Font and Holy Water Tops: Hugh’s Photo Diary
28th May 2012
In the last year, I’ve completed a number of ecclesiastical joinery and cabinetry projects for a church in Chester and I thought I’d…
Handmade Oak and Walnut Desk: Hugh’s Photo Diary
20th May 2012
This handmade oak and walnut desk was commissioned early last year and was a pleasure to make. It was designed by architect Tom…
Handmade Home / Office Furniture: Hugh’s Photo Diary
13th May 2012
Last weeks photo diary was about ‘The Bug’ living room furniture. In the background of one of the photos was another project I…
Handmade Oak Kitchen Table: Hugh’s Photo Diary
7th May 2012
Although my specialism is fitted furniture and interiors, I really enjoy making single pieces of bespoke furniture. One project which was deceptively challenging…
‘The Bug’ Handmade Oak Living Room Furniture: Hugh’s Photo Diary
28th April 2012
Before I started this blog, I completed a number of projects where I took lots of photos during making. As I’m still on…
Oak and Walnut ‘Door with a Secret’: Hugh’s photo diary
22nd April 2012
The ‘Door with a Secret‘ is a project I completed at the end of 2011, and one of my absolute favorites. The client…
Tradtional Casement Windows
11th March 2012
Recently, I’ve been making some traditional windows with very thin glazing bars for a property in a conservation area in Cheshire. They are…