The Dancing Woodman is one of a new generation of British furniture makers working with reclaimed timber, where every knot, groove and dent is there on purpose. In a busy Southampton workshop, Aaron and his team take local timber that has already lived one life and give it another, as a family dining table, a butcher’s block at the heart of a kitchen, or a bath caddy for long Sunday soaks. In the first of our Meet the Artisans series, Aaron explains how it all began in his back garden, why sustainability matters to the workshop, and what comes next. Start with the film, a glimpse inside the workshop where every piece is made.
Inside The Dancing Woodman Workshop
Step inside the Southampton workshop where every piece is made, from the timber stacked by the bench to the tools that shape it.
Why it matters: Aaron talks about how rewarding it is to make something by hand, and why sustainable sourcing is so important to the workshop.
From garden shed to British furniture maker
It began with something small: Aaron wanted a rustic TV unit. Rather than buy one, he decided to make it himself, and found he loved every minute. “I really enjoyed the process,” he says. “I posted it on my socials and got great feedback.”
Side tables followed, then bath caddies, then shelves, all built in his spare time in the back garden, “before I even got a shed to do it in!” That spare-time project now fills a dedicated workshop, where sawdust hangs in the light and a stack of character-rich timber waits under every bench.
A name born from a dance
The name came from a spur-of-the-moment idea. Aaron was working on a garden project with his headphones in, “probably moving and throwing some questionable shapes.” He messaged the family chat with a suggestion: The Dancing Sandman. His mum had a better one. She suggested The Dancing Woodman, and it stuck. “The name was 50% from my mum,” he says. “I can’t take full credit.”
Timber with a past life
Every board starts with a local supplier in Southampton, and every board is chosen for its scars. “We specifically look for timber that has a lot of rustic character: knots, grains, indents,” Aaron explains. “Things that tell a story from its previous life.”
Those marks aren’t sanded away. They are what makes each table different from the next, so the piece that arrives in your home carries a history no factory can copy. Using local reclaimed timber also keeps transport miles down and means less goes to waste.
How a James bath caddy is made
The James bath caddy is one of the workshop’s best-loved pieces, and a favourite in our rustic bathroom ideas feature. Each one is shaped entirely by hand:
- A board is chosen from the timber pile, measured to size and cut on the saw.
- It is sanded three times, until the surface feels soft under your fingertips.
- Two small wooden feet are cut, sanded and screwed beneath. They stop the caddy slipping into the bath and add to its rustic charm.
- Finally, it is stained in the customer’s chosen finish, from natural through to antique oak.
The pieces customers love most
Ask Aaron to pick a favourite and he’ll tell you he loves them all. Pushed for one, he chooses the William and Rose butcher’s blocks, farmhouse-style kitchen islands that now stand in homes all over the world. The range also includes dining tables with matching benches, coffee tables with a shelf below for books, stools, ladders and shoe rack benches.
Made for your space
If you have an awkward alcove, a long kitchen or a bench that needs to match a table you already own, The Dancing Woodman takes commissions. “We are always looking for a new challenge,” Aaron says. Pieces can even be treated for outdoor use on request.
Saturday workshops and what comes next
Since March, the team has opened the workshop doors on Saturdays so visitors can make something with their own hands and take it home. The sessions have been a hit, and there are plans to grow them in the new year. Aaron also wants to bring the brand to more people and work on commercial projects, such as cafés, shops and hospitality spaces.
Shop The Dancing Woodman
Shop the full range direct from thedancingwoodman.com or on The Dancing Woodman’s Etsy shop, including the James bath caddy, the William and Rose butcher’s blocks, and made-to-order dining and coffee tables. You’ll also find Saturday workshop dates on the website.