“My parents moved up to Scotland in the early 1970s, when my grandfather worked on the hothouses at the Royal Botanical Garden,” he shares via email with Celtic Life International. “I was born in Edinburgh and grew up in the rolling countryside of East Lothian.”

His childhood home, a former 18th-century farm building, was rebuilt by his father and remains a touchstone of his upbringing. “My parents still live in that house, and my father, Master Woodcarver David Robinson, still works there in his home workshop, where I learned the trade.”

Today, Robinson resides in a wooden house of his own making with his wife Marisa and their “terrible little border collie,” nestled among sheep fields outside Linlithgow, a town renowned as the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots.

Given his father’s influence, Robinson’s path to woodworking was almost inevitable. “As a child, I felt drawn to his workshop, so in some ways, I have done it for as long as I can remember.”

Despite the early start, Robinson only officially began working professionally in the field at the age of 19. “I was tending bar in a quiet little hotel, drifting my days away. My father needed support on a large bespoke project, and I needed a change of direction. Before too long, I had fallen in love with the craft, and I’ve been doing it ever since.”

Like the wood he works with, Robinson’s experience as a craftsman matured over the years. “As I have grown, my skills have developed. What appealed to me throughout was the independence and the freedom of the creative life.”

He admits that, despite the fulfillment, woodworking is not without its struggles.

“Honestly, it is a tough way to make a living; materials are getting more expensive, hardwood species are struggling, and the shipping of items has become very challenging. And, while all of those costs have gone up, household incomes continue to go down.”

Add to that the pressures of the digital world. “It is difficult to maintain a meaningful social media presence – which is essential these days – without that becoming very time-consuming.”

Robinson asserts, however, that the rewards of the vocation continue to outweigh those difficulties. “Engaging with the natural world through expressive manual labor speaks to something ancient in all of us. It’s something that can forever change your relationship with the objects around you. It is honest, useful, stimulating, and sustainable work.”

His many achievements have contributed to his gratitude. “Exhibiting at the Royal Academy of the Arts in London was a real highlight. I am also proud to have created a store interior for Aesop – who creates such legendary interiors.”

His proudest moment, however, is more personal. “More than anything, seeing how far my father has come as a woodcarver – the recognition his work now gets around the world – that’s my standout highlight.”

Given his dedication, it was a natural next step for Robinson to write his debut book, Ingrained, as an intimate exploration of his craft.

“Two years, three thousand cups of coffee, more endless nights, delights, heartaches and breakthroughs than I can ever remember.”

The book offers readers a deeply immersive experience of the woodworking life. “I wanted to provide a visceral sense of what it felt like to work with their hands in the modern age. To describe, as evocatively as I could, the sights and smells and feelings that working with wood can provide.”

The response has been overwhelming. “I have been totally blown away. This simple family story about a young man trying to find his place in the world, in the workshop, and amid the wonder of wood and trees, is being read all over the world – reviewed in places like The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, and The Financial Times. People are even reaching out to me personally – it is more than I ever could have imagined.”

In addition to the absorbing narrative, those considering a career in woodworking or carpentry can find guidance in the tome, which will soon be followed by a sequel.

“I’m working on my next book right now. There’s a lot more to explore in the wonderful world of wood, and I’ve scarcely scratched the surface!”

callumrobinson.org
@callum.robinson.writes