07/06/2026
The Craft, The Graft, & The History: The Story of BogansBrushes
We do not just paint walls. We protect, restore, and honor the architectural soul of the South West.
True trade mastery is a mountain with no summit—it is a lifelong pursuit that takes an entire lifetime to fully realize. But while the journey is long, the standard is absolute.
At BogansBrushes, our reputation wasn’t built overnight on slick marketing. It was forged through years of relentless graft, hard work, and an uncompromised dedication to the fine art of decoration.
🪵 Built on Grit, Trained by Legends
My story belongs to the old school. I come from very, very humble beginnings, and those roots entirely define my work ethic today. I wasn’t handed a business or a reputation; I built it step-by-step with my own two hands.
Early in my career, my path was shaped directly on the scaffolding alongside the old-school masters of the trade—veterans who had over 50 years of relentless graft and craft behind them. They didn’t just teach me how to apply paint; they passed down the foundational secrets of exhaustive surface preparation, traditional pride, and complex heritage coating systems.
That early dedication didn’t go unnoticed. I was proudly nominated as Regional Apprentice of the Year, an honor that awarded me an official trip to the House of Commons to actively participate in shaping solutions for the next generation of upcoming master decorators.
Today, as a decorator in my mid-30s, I bring a powerful, rare dynamic to the industry: the unstoppable physical energy and youthful drive to out-graft the field, combined with an elite, lifelong dedication to historical preservation. I am a decorator who is still grafting, still learning, and deeply honored by the sheer volume of local history that has been uniquely entrusted to my care.
🏛️ Driven by Heritage: Where the History Lives
Over the years, I have worked alongside a long list of premier national builders and principal contractors—delivering high-specification decorating contracts for industry giants like Kier, Cavanna, Barratt Homes, and Redrow Homes. I know the modern corporate sector inside out, but the history is where I am at.
Rushing through cookie-cutter contracts for corporate turnover doesn't feed the soul of a true artisan. My true calling belongs to Devon's ancient, protected, and time-worn walls. I am drawn to the structural challenges that only centuries of weathering can create, and I treat every historic property not as a job site, but as a monument that deserves to survive for another hundred years.
👑 Why BogansBrushes Stands Completely Alone
In a modern industry obsessed with cutting corners, rapid expansion, and rushing onto the next job, BogansBrushes operates on an entirely different plane.
* The Project Over the Profit: I have no desire to be the biggest firm in Devon with the most contracts or the highest corporate turnover. I don't chase numbers; I chase the craft. For me, it is entirely about the property itself—its architectural integrity, its challenges, and its unique story.
* Hand-Selected Clients: Because I refuse to compromise the quality of my finish, I intentionally hand-select every single project I take on. I only work with clients who value exceptional workmanship and understand that historic properties cannot be rushed.
* The 80% Solo Rule: When you hire BogansBrushes, you are investing directly in my personal focus and individual labor. I do not secure a prestigious contract just to walk away and pass it off to sub-contractors. At least 80% of all the massive, prestigious, and high-stakes decoration work listed below was completed by me, and me alone. My hands prepped the surfaces, my brushes laid the paint, and my eyes verified the perfection.
💼 Our Operational Philosophy: Purpose Over Scale
To maintain these absolute standards, we intentionally operate with a lean, highly focused business structure. If your project requires a massive corporate firm operating a large workforce, managing a fleet of generic vehicles, and running an overdraft-dependent business model focused primarily on volume and turnover, we are not the right fit.
Instead, we cater exclusively to clients who value an authentic, highly respected craftsman who personally manages each project. I arrive on-site in a dedicated, operational workhorse vehicle, ready to commit my personal labor and reputation to your property. We do not hide behind corporate structures; our business model is anchored strictly by old-school accountability, transparent values, and uncompromised pride in ex*****on.
📜 The Living Archive: A Portfolio of Historic & Modern Craft
From medieval manors to towering naval gates and major modern landmarks, my individual brushstrokes are permanently woven into the fabric of the region. Every building listed below stands as a testament to my personal workmanship:
🏰 Grand Estates & Historical Treasures
* Exeter's Converted Steiner School (Original 16th-Century Manor House): Entrusted with the delicate decoration of this magnificent historic manor. While prepping the ancient walls, my deep training allowed me to uncover and preserve authentic 16th-century craftsmanship markings left behind by Tudor tradesmen centuries ago.
* The Raglan Gatehouse (Stonehouse, Plymouth): Personally decorated parts of this newly converted, towering mid-19th-century military landmark. Precision ex*****on designed to honor its monumental naval and garrison grandeur.
* Ludd House (Ermington): Executed the entire internal and external decoration completely single-handedly—a relentless, individual effort requiring massive stamina to protect and finish a site of profound local historic importance.
* The Lockyer Street Admiral Houses (Plymouth): A full-circle testament to a life in the trade. I cut my teeth here as an apprentice on one grand building (now home to Sound Financial). Years later, I returned alongside a local builder to complete the monumental next-door conversion—personally transforming these stately, towering historic Admiral houses into luxury high-end flats, including the original Coach House.
* The Hareston Farm Barns (Yealmpton): Delivered extensive, high-end decoration across a vast variety of this grand estate. My solo work covers everything from the sleek modern residential extensions to original, character-filled structural gems like the historic Pump House and beautifully converted cow sheds originally built by the Plymouth Cooperative Society in 1908.
* The St. Olaf's Barns (Puslinch, Yealmpton): Completely transformed a standout barn within this medieval-rooted agricultural complex tucked directly behind the grand, 3-storey Yonge family brick mansion—personally painting everything from the historic windows to the massive interior walls.
* Puslinch Farm (Yealmpton): Personally applied decorative expertise to various bits and pieces across this grand, historic organic estate, with future meetings booked in to take on major upcoming conservation phases.
* Lower Well Farmhouse (Ugborough): Hand-decorated the ultimate centerpiece of the estate—the original historic farmhouse itself, delivering a flawless, sympathetic finish that respects its deep agricultural heritage.
* The Ugborough Landmark Longhouse: Revitalised this iconic 17th-century cob-and-stone structure, beautifully restoring the grand visual gateway that welcomes people as they enter the village.
* and many more ….
📍 Current Masterpiece in Progress
* Easton Coach House: I am currently on-site in Easton, pouring my signature grit and individual expertise into decorating the original historic Coach House, transforming a raw piece of Devon's history into a luxury architectural masterpiece.
🌆 Premier Modern Extensions & Commercial Landmarks
Bringing our signature flawlessness and relentless work ethic to the region's top high-specification commercial milestones and residential communities:
* Modern Residential Communities: Executing pristine, crisp modern decoration on premier new builds under principal contractors at Sherford and the highly sought-after new housing development located on King George’s Field just off Sherford.
* Commercial Milestones: Delivered high-specification decorating contracts under project management teams for The New Met Office, Marjon University, and numerous regional schools.
💎 Elite Industry Standards & Technical Support
High-net-worth clients, premium developers, and main contractors choose BogansBrushes because we seamlessly bridge old-school artisan techniques with elite corporate backing.
* Dulux Heritage Specialist on Speed Dial: We pair raw on-site grit with elite technical support. For complex period properties, breathable lime coatings, or rare color matching, I consult directly with Dulux's premier Heritage Specialists instantly.
* In-House Ornate Plaster Finishing: Backed by specialist craftsmen who can replicate, repair, and finish breathtaking, authentic ornate plasterwork—from intricate historic coving and ceiling roses to smooth, specialized heritage finishes.
* Mastery of Every Era: We understand how to make ancient, breathable lime and cob surfaces thrive, while possessing the modern speed, precision, and ex*****on required for high-stakes commercial layouts.
📞 Entrust Your History to a Master Craftsman
Your property is not a standard project. It requires a decorator who views your walls as a canvas of historical importance and backs it up with unmatched solo dedication. Work with a craftsman built on years of humble graft, legendary training, and an unshakeable passion for perfection.
Contact BogansBrushes Today
Built on graft. Trusted with history.
Pictures of Ludd House listed - Currently on the Market.
