We chatted to Hugh Beauchamp of Beauchamp Edinburgh, exhibitors at The Scottish Game Fair.
Hugh Beauchamp at work
Hugh, who are you?
I’m a Scottish furniture designer and maker, born and raised in Edinburgh. I usually describe myself as a cabinet maker as it’s a term that encompasses the type of traditional small-scale fine work that I do. I specialise in bespoke boxes, which can range from small trinket boxes for an individual watch or piece or jewellery to chests to house large collections.
Beauchamp Edinburgh is a solo operation, clients interact with me directly and all of the design, construction and finishing work is done by me. My timber is mainly sourced from small sawmills in Scotland with occasional pieces from around the UK (I recently acquired some English walnut for example). I also use some exotic timbers and veneers that are either reclaimed or come from small responsible suppliers in the UK.
How did you train?
I am mostly a self-taught woodworker, studying the work of traditional makers as well as developing my own approaches, but have also studied with respected furniture artists like Isabelle Moore and Jack Mauch to develop my skills in specific areas like veneering and cabinetry.
How long you have been working in this area?
Beauchamp Edinburgh as my full-time business has been running for 4 years, starting in 2020. Before this I worked in the software industry for 12 years.
A beautiful jewellery box made by Hugh
What sort of commissions have you done? Anything particularly unusual?
My work is usually commissioned as a gift for a special occasion, so I have built pieces for milestone birthdays, Christmas gifts, and wedding anniversaries (the fifth is the Wood anniversary, for example!). Most of my commissioned pieces have been jewellery and watch boxes, but I have also built some more unusual pieces. For example, for Christmas 2022, I was commissioned to build a set of three matching backgammon sets which were gifted by the client to close friends. The design incorporated symbols and monograms that had particular significance to the recipients.
Most of my pieces have been delivered to customers in the UK, but I have also worked with clients from further afield including the US, Singapore and Czechia.
Backgammon set
Why did you decide to work in this area?
Like many people, I reassessed my life and career during the Covid-19 pandemic. I have always enjoyed the process of physically making and crafting something, and throughout my life I have developed my woodworking skills as a side-project, with a particular focus on traditional hand-tool skills, processes and principles. I made the decision to go full time and launched Beauchamp Edinburgh. Focussing on bespoke boxes and games allowed me to incorporate these traditional techniques in my pieces while working directly with people to build the perfect piece for them. A client recently told me that his wife loved using her jewellery box every day and that it had taken pride of place on her dressing table. Hearing that something I had dedicated significant time and care into was appreciated so much is incredibly satisfying!
What is the starting price for your work?
Price is very dependent on the size and complexity of a piece. Jewellery boxes with one tray start at around £950, with watch boxes starting at and £1,550 and larger jewellery boxes with drawers starting around £2,500.
Cover of a jewellery box
Where do you work from?
I work from a purpose-built studio at my home.
Backgammon set with geometric design
How do you get inspiration?
We have some incredibly beautiful timber in Scotland, so I aim to produce practical pieces that showcase the material they’re made from through clean forms, grain-matched veneers and geometric parquetry. I like to incorporate features that are meaningful to the client or intended recipient of the box. This can be inlaid initials or dates, patterns or design elements that carry significance, or even materials that have a deeper meaning to a particular person. A favourite jewellery box I built recently incorporated two different timbers, one sourced from near the recipient’s childhood home, and one from where she now lives.
The design of a piece can also be informed by its purpose. For example, I recently completed a set of watch boxes for an independent watchmaker. Each box was unique, and I incorporated design elements that reflected the watch that it was built to hold.
I’m also influenced by traditional parquetry patterns and woodworking techniques which find their way into many of my pieces. I also love wooden puzzles and enjoy the opportunity to incorporate hidden drawers and secret compartments into my work!
You can find Beauchamp Edinburgh on Stand 015 at The Scottish Game Fair. For tickets, click here.
