About Tidal Timber Crafts
I’m Phil, the maker behind Tidal Timber Crafts.
Tidal Timber Crafts brings together two things I love: making by hand and exploring the landscapes of south-west Scotland. It began as a passion project, inspired by the small adventures found close to home and by a desire to turn those experiences into beautiful, useful objects.
Crafting on the edge of land, sea and story
Living on the Galloway coast, I am surrounded by wooded shorelines, expansive tidal beaches and dramatic hilltop skylines.
Inspiration often comes from simple moments outdoors: wild camping beneath star-filled skies beside the crackle of a fire, exploring quiet bays scattered with driftwood, or foraging seaweed around coastal islands by kayak as the evening light changes.
I am particularly drawn to the edges of landscapes—where woodland meets shoreline, rivers meet the sea and light moves through the trees. These places are full of beauty, fragility and contradiction.
Water helps a tree grow strong, yet too much moisture can cause it to decay. A fallen branch may be carried into the sea, where tides, salt and time dry it and sculpt it into something entirely new. Light nurtures growth, but can also fade, weather and transform the materials it touches.
Those relationships between wood, water and light sit at the heart of my work—and are reflected in the name Tidal Timber Crafts.
From landscape to craft
Each collection translates a different part of the landscape into something for the home.
The meeting of wood and water is reflected in my hardwood and epoxy serving platters, where natural grain and flowing resin echo the movement of shorelines, rivers and tides.
The changing light and leaf forms of Galloway’s woodlands inspire my layered coasters and growing Woodland Tableware collection. Precision-cut layers recreate the shape, contrast and texture found beneath the woodland canopy, creating practical pieces for coffee tables, dining tables and shared moments at home.
Wildlife magnets and keepsake boxes offer smaller, more personal ways to bring the character of the outdoors into everyday life. Some celebrate familiar animals and landscapes, while others can be personalised around a name, memory or story.
Made for shared moments
I want the finished pieces to do more than simply look beautiful.
They are made for the moments that matter: food shared around a table, an unhurried evening with friends, tea and cake after a bracing walk, a thoughtful gift, or a box created to hold treasured memories.
Every piece begins with a landscape, a story or a feeling, but it is completed by the way it becomes part of someone else’s home and life.
Made slowly and in small batches
Every item is made in small batches, with care given to the materials, proportions and finish.
I allow the natural character of the timber to help shape the design. Grain, knots and subtle variations are not imperfections to hide; they are part of what makes every handcrafted piece individual.
I aim to work responsibly, use materials thoughtfully and create durable objects that can be used and enjoyed for years. From designing and cutting to layering, sanding, assembling and finishing, each stage is completed by hand.
Your story, made personal
Sometimes a piece begins with someone else’s story: a favourite animal, a meaningful place, a family memory or a gift for someone special.
Many existing designs can be personalised, while commissions provide the opportunity to create something more individual. That might be a personalised keepsake box, an adapted serving platter or a completely new design developed around your ideas.
Whether you are looking for a handcrafted gift, a statement piece for your home or a commission inspired by your own story, you are warmly invited to explore the collection or get in touch.
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