Home/About
The man at the bench
One painter, one bench, in Swindon. No production line, no outsourcing, no mystery about who is holding the brush.
Hello
I'm Chris.
I started Warhammer as a teenager, and then like most people I took a long leave of absence. About ten years ago my son wandered into the local Warhammer store, and that was the end of that. I was hooked again, and this time it stuck.
Over the years I have painted most 40k factions. My main army has always been the boys in blue, though right now I am deep into an Aeldari project and enjoying every minute of it.
Mine is a very nerdy household, so the painting cabinet is not just 40k. Age of Sigmar, Shatterpoint, Star Wars Legion and a fair number of models that do not belong to any system at all, all live in there together.
The bench is patient. The pile is not.
Maxims of the Forge
The club
Brunel Knights
I have become a lot more active in the local tabletop gaming community, and I sit on the committee of my local group, the Brunel Knights.
I also painted the terrain the club plays on. There is something very satisfying about watching a 2v2 fight across boards you put the highlights on yourself.
Honest trophies
The wooden spoon
I entered my first ever tournament, the Stratton Slaughter 4 at Atomic Cards. Being my first time, I was amazed to come home with a prize at all.
It was the wooden spoon. I am keeping it. Painting well and playing well turn out to be two entirely separate skills, and I know which one you are hiring me for.
How I work
What you actually get
One pair of hands
Every model you send is painted by me. Nothing gets passed down a line or sent overseas.
Asked, not assumed
If a detail matters, I will ask you about it rather than guess. Your army, your call.
Shown as I go
Work in progress pictures along the way, so the finished models are never a surprise.
Priced like a hobbyist
I am a hobbyist charging hobbyist prices, with payment plans on the bigger jobs.
Local or by post
Swindon and the surrounding towns can drop off. Everywhere else in the UK, the post works fine.
Anything, really
40k, Age of Sigmar, Blood Bowl, Shatterpoint, Legion, Crisis Protocol, or something nobody has heard of.
Commission slots are open
Let's talk about your pile.
I am happy to answer any questions, and I would rather have a proper chat than take a vague order.