Nikos Bartlam is the creator and craftsman behind @against.the.grain.nb, based on the outskirts of Birmingham.
Nikos brings wood and resin together to create unique bespoke furniture. The character and warmth of the wood, mixed with resin that can be transparent or metallic, breathes life into pieces for homes and workplaces.
Nikos works closely with his customers to make sure that what they want is achieved down to the smallest detail. He specialises in canape boards, chopping boards, serving boards, coffee tables and longboards, though the variety that wood and resin allow is effectively limitless.
Although every piece is one of a kind, he can make more than one of a given design. Because of the handmade nature of the work and the natural variation in wood and resin, no two finished pieces are ever identical.
Growing up, Nikos was always fascinated by wood and by bright colours. One day he came across his first wood and resin piece and decided to dedicate all the time he could to teaching himself, which he has since turned into his full-time job. He has always believed in what he does, always gone against the grain and pushed to be different, and that is where the company got its name.
Want to work with wood and resin?
Combining the two mediums has its own rules: the wood has to be dry and prepared, the pour has to be contained, and a board destined for food use needs the right finish. The formula for the surface of a board is Craft Resin Table Top Epoxy – it is the coating resin in the range, thick enough to hold position across a flat area instead of running off the edges. These free guides cover the rest:
- How To Work With Wood And Epoxy Resin
- Using Craft Resin On Thicker Projects
- The Basics Of How To Use Craft Resin's Epoxy Resin
- Adding Colour Into Your Resin Creations
There are more techniques on our YouTube channel and across the Craft Resin blog, all free to watch and read.
Are you a resin artist with skills to share? We work with artists to bring their techniques to our whole audience. Collaborate with Craft Resin.
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