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Chief Candle Maker. Born in Europe 2014

The concept for Roughneck Candles started whilst I was travelling around Europe in a self build campervan. The conversion from minibus to home on wheels was a fairly simple one and was lacking any proper heating system. To beat the cold I used tealights to heat an upside down terracotta pot. Scraps of wax would always be left in the tealight cups and rather than throw it away, I saved it all up to melt down again and make a new candle.

Hey presto, Roughneck Candles was born. Although at this time I was just messing around, making candles out of recycled wax.

It wasn't until I returned to Cardiff and needed a way of making a bit of money that Roughneck Candles came into it's own.

I got back to Cardiff with two months to go before Christmas. I wanted to keep using recycled wax and so trawled pubs and bars that used candles to see if they would save their waste wax for me. I was incredibly successful in this and was able to collect multiple kilos a week. I also teamed up with a beekeeper and worked with him in exchange for beeswax.

So materials gathered and candles made, I hit the Christmas markets of Cardiff. Roughneck Candles ended u being a great success and I've simply carried on and not given up.

The style of candle I make has changed with demand and my equipment has grown and developed. But it's still al hand made by me in my little workshop, now situated in Kent.

By day I work at a traditional smokery as Head Smoker. I work this job to help fund my business. By night I'm either in m workshop or in a dojo in Tonbridge practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

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