Furniture maker. Cabinet maker. Just don’t call him a carpenter! What does it all mean? Jim started out making cabinets next to Liam Howlett from The Prodigy’s house… that’s like Essex’s answer to Buckingham Palace surely! Jim started his creative journey polishing furniture, and then learned more about how to make it. When do you know you are ready to set up on your own and become self-employed? Applying craft, skills and unique materials to create bespoke cabinets on massive budgets for wealthy people. Jim also makes art from wood. Usually by identifying potential in knotted wood offcuts. He makes skulls from black walnut. Finding faces in ‘hairy’ wood. Jim built the bars at Hot Box and Radio City Social in Chelmsford, and even made beer pump handles from old skateboards. Jim made some hardwood skateboards at school. He went to art college for a bit, but it wasn’t for him. He made skateboard ramps and half pipes growing up. Jim’s favourite wood is Black Walnut. He loves the smell of Cedar - proving that he is not a moth. Celebrity trees from classic paintings. Growing interesting patterns in wood grain with mycelium. AND Sangita won a Panic Award for community spirit! Big up Queen Sangita!

Jim Rands on Instagram
Are You Creative? recorded by Adam at Lawker Media, Chelmsford, ESSEX
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

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Thanks to NGDA for their support
Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK