Rupert Bevan
Rupert Bevan is a gilder, furniture designer, restorer and maker who employs 24 craftspeople in his workshop in Shropshire and showroom in London.
As well as designing and making furniture for an impressive list of private clients he has created bespoke pieces for many important hotels and restaurants across the globe.
Please tell us what your role in the business is?
It’s my business but I spend most of my time in sales and design.
Where do you do most of your work?
I work between my workshop in Shropshire and my shop in London. So, I spend most of my time in my car. I often find myself parked up in London doing my emails; I am not distracted and no one can disturb me in my car.
How many people do you work with closely on a day-to-day basis?
We’re a company of 24 craftsman and designers, but I probably only work with four people closely. I spend almost all of my time with clients and the design team.
What is the biggest challenge that you face at work every day?
Everything that we make is bespoke and that creates a unique set of challenges every time. So, most of my day is spent problem solving which is something that I love.
Talk us through lunch. A sandwich at your desk or a full hour in the park?
It’s a salad at my desk sadly. I’m from the generation of Gordon Gekko, lunch is for wimps.
What is the biggest lesson that you’ve learned that you wish you’d known when you started your career?
The importance of communication, communication, communication! In my world things only ever go wrong because of the lack of it.
Email. Friend or foe?
Email is great for backing things up but equally, it’s often used as an excuse not to communicate properly. In my studio I have signs that say “Use Email as a Last Resort”.
Do you use a digital or paper To Do List? And how effective are you at getting everything done?
I very rarely use digital notes. I am a notepad person which gives me an excuse to buy endless cool notepads. There’s something very cold about digital lists. In terms of getting through my To Do List, I start with good intentions but for the truth you might have to ask my PA!
Do you leave work at a set time each day?
No, I don’t. I tend to leave when the job is done which often means I am working late or taking my work home. My day seems to start around 8ish and finish around 8ish; very happily I might add.
How do you relax? Do you look after yourself properly?
Well, I am a brilliant cook and have an amazing body. I find cooking very therapeutic and have endless cookbooks; I love to spend my Saturdays experimenting. I also play around with craft and have recently been marbling paper. I keep pretty fit but enjoy the odd bottle of red wine.
How confident are you about the future of your business?
I am very excited about the future. I am at my core a craftsman and I am a great enthusiast for new ideas. My biggest fear is running out of energy.
What is your secret time-wasting technique at your desk?
I am very easily distracted, and I have to confess that the-saleroom.com does feature very largely in my inbox.
Do you listen to music as you work and if so, what has been playing today?
As much as I love music, I rely on my friends to play it. At school everyone was buying record players and their first LPs and I was hiding in the art block.
