About Us

Ruth Mae

When designing and making my work, my main aim is to produce as beautiful a form as possible. Whether the end piece is to be a functional porridge bowl in sycamore or a delicate vessel in holly, my idea of beauty is simplicity and clear definition of line and form. I am interested in shapes and how particular forms can have the power to affect and move us.

Although I am mainly self-taught, my current work at Southbank Studio has grown out of an earlier period working as an architectural / artisan woodturner in Bath and Glasgow. This work mainly consisted of turning high-quality pieces for refurbishment or restoration projects in listed buildings, public and private.  These years of disciplined craft work, with the close observation, skilled use of tools and accuracy that this required, have laid a foundation for the development of my present work.

All of my pieces are made on a woodturning lathe using hardwoods sourced mainly on the island of Arran or mainland Scotland. Wood is a precious resource and I made a decision early on in my work to only use Scottish grown timbers from sustainable sources or wood that was destined for landfill or burning.  Rather than being a limitation, this decision has led me to a deeper exploration of the properties of a few woods such as holly and cherry. Holly, when turned green and dried can take on subtle undulating shapes and fragile looking forms with the delicate texture of porcelain or shell. Cherry is sometimes more suited to geometric forms. I also use sycamore, ash and oak for more functional work. Each bowl or vessel in individually made and as such is a "one-off".

I will often "ebonise" the pieces by applying an iron salt solution to the finished form. The iron salt solution reacts with the naturally occurring tannin in the timber. When applied to holly this process will change the wood from a parchment-like creamy white to blue-grey or slate shades.    On timbers like cherry or oak the same "ebonising" process will turn the piece black.

As well as selling my work on Arran, I have frequently exhibited in galleries UK wide. Our Southbank Studio is now on the Arran Art Trail. This year's Arran Open Studios event takes place Friday 2nd - Monday 5th August 2019

My work can also be seen on www.arranartists.com and www.arranopenstudios.com

Dave Samuels

I am a maker of fine, bespoke hardwood furniture, and other items in wood. I have been working in wood now for more than 40 years. Largely self-taught, I started out as an architectural joiner, working in the city of Bath, where just about every house was listed and most replacement work had to replicate the originals exactly. After making innumerable sliding sash windows, I started making kitchens and then furniture. My reputation for reliability and good workmanship grew and I was offered the post of manager of a small joinery firm. However, administration was not for me and after five years I determined to start afresh. Wanting a change of scene, I moved to Glasgow in its year as European City of Culture ( my contribution went unacknowledged, I'm afraid), where, amongst other things, I gained a reputation for the making of complex, bespoke staircases. Then we moved to Arran.

Here, in our workshop overlooking the sea, I make bespoke furniture for individual clients, staircases, wooden toys, mirrors, taiko drums, and a strange instrument called a bowed psaltery, which produces an ethereal, beautiful sound. Please look at my page to see a gallery of my work, or visit our studio. I enjoy working with my clients to design and make items of furniture that they want, so that if there is anything that you want making, please feel free to come and discuss your requirements with me.