MY STORY & PHILOSOPHY

Oaksmith is the business name for David Frere-Smith woodworking.

 

I'm passionate about wood, I love making, adapting, mending and renovating things. I take care to construct to a high standard, and I like finishing things properly (as would have been seen as a necessity in times gone by). Making this extra effort clearly differentiates work from the mainstream. I love the feeling and look of a well prepared piece of wood, beautifully sanded and finished. And polished with beeswax it can smell good too.

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The joy of seeing happy faces on receipt of the final product is quite a reward. Marvelling that this (near!) perfect looking thing created from a straightforward lump of timber.
 

Although mostly self taught, I recently gained a Diploma (Distinction) in Furniture Making from the well respected Furniture department at Chichester College.

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My Great Grandfather was Herbert J Day - an artist and furniture maker. He has a number of his designs (which can be viewed on request) in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. I look forward to making some of them over the next year.

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I take pride in my work and I make beautiful and functional pieces that will last for generations. My philosophy is to use the finest materials (often reclaimed) and to pay attention to every detail in the design, construction and finishing process.

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I can design, make, and mend products and can provide services on demand.
 

For fuller details of past work look at the Past Projects page.

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Recent projects:

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• NEW 19th February 2026
  Cheese board with chutney pots for Willow Tea Room Barnham
  
   

• NEW 13/2/2026: An oak tips box for the new
  (and fabulous) Strobilus Cafe in Chichester:
   

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• An oak cross to mark a family grave

• Replacement feet (in oak) to raise the height of a new sofa

• A small oak box to hold SD cards for a keen photographer

• An small oak box with hidden hinges and hidden magnetic catches to store toothpicks

• An oak dovetailed "chicken chute" to help feed pet chickens 

• A chamfer edged oak serving board

• Two small oak dovetailed trays

• An oak bedside cabinet

• A pair of chamfer edged oak and beech dovetail book ends

• Several letter openers (oak and teak)

• A Danish butter knife