I am Scotland’s only Television Set Designer specialising in Entertainment and Arts and have designed over 100 television sets. Having started my career at BBC Scotland I now freelance mainly for the BBC, CH4, STV and many smaller independent production companies.

Working Practice

My starting point as a designer is to think of the set through the eye of the camera, I like to create many layers, depth and texture within each shot. I design to the close-up, the 2 shot, the POV and of course the wide shot - all must be interesting, dynamic and suitable for the feel of the programme I am working on.

I see design as a creative collaboration working closely with the Director and Producers to discover exactly what is required - the ideas settle and form in my head until a design comes to light. I then make a model, draw or paint a visual image to present to the team. Working with Cameras, Lighting and Sound I create something that works well for everyone. I have many years experience of making sets happen within budget and timescales.

Trained as a Fine Artist in Sculpture and Painting I love to work with colour, either on materials in the making of my sets or working closely with the Lighting Director to paint light onto the set.

I work from my studio by the sea just outside Glasgow, with the islands and mountains of Argyll & Bute across the horizon.

Most recent and featured shows

Music

TRNSMT

BBC 1 - Live Music Festival - 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024

Presentation Area for Interviews and Acoustic Sets
Presented by Edith Bowman
Directed by John Smith
Produced by Gillian McNeil

Trad Music Awards

BBC Alba - Live Music Show - 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024

Presented by Mary Anne Kennedy & Alistair Heather
Directed by John Smith
Produced by Iain Macleod

Belladrum

Presentation Area for Acoustic Sets and Interviews
BBC Scotland - Live Music Festival - 2022, 2023, 2024

Presented by Fiona MacKenzie & Niall Iain MacDonald
Directed by John Smith
Produced by Iain Macleod

Children in Need

BBC Scotland - Live Music Show - 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

Presented by Jackie Bird
Directed by John Smith
Produced by Donald McInnes

T in the Park

BBC One - Live Music Festival

Presented by Edith Bowman & Dougie Anderson
Presentation Area for interviews and Acoustic Sets
Directed by John Smith

Christmas at the Quay

BBC Scotland - Live Music Show - 2021, 2023

Presented by Roddy Hart
Directed by Donald Maclness
Produced by Laura Seawright

Pride of Scotland Awards Ceremony

STV - Live Music Awards Show - 2021

Presented by Sanjeev Kohli & Elaine C. Smith
Directed by David Smith
Produced by Yvonne Alexander

Seírm

BBC Alba - Live Music from Celtic Connections - 2021, 2022

Presented by Mary Anne Kennedy
Directed by John Smith
Produced by Iain Macleod

Cèilidh na Bliadhn’ Ùire - Live on Hogmanay

BBC Alba - Live Music Show - 2022

Presented by Cathie Macdonald & Niall Iain MacDonald
Directed by John Smith
Produced by Donna Murchison

Alleluia

BBC Scotland - Religious Chat and Music show - 2020, 2021, 2022

Presented by Iain MacKinnon
Directed by Donald MacInnes
Produced by JJ Macklsaac

Entertainment

The One Show for Cop26

Made almost entirely from recycled materials
BBC One - Live Chat Show - 2021

Presented by Alex Scott & Gethin Jones
Directed by Stephen Neal
Produced by Dan Blight

Ultimate Wedding Planner

BBC Two - Reality Wedding Show - 2022

Presented by Sara Davies, Fred Sirieix & Raj Somaiya
Directed by Justin Lennox-Bradley
Produced by Chi Ukairo

Ipswich Town TV

Sky Sport - Football Chat Show - 2023

Presented by James Kirtland, Matt Holland & Darren Ambrose
Directed by QTV
Produced by Marcus Nash

Susan Calman’s Happy Space

BBC One - Chat show - 2021

Directed by John Smith
Produced by Gillian McNeil

Political Award Ceremony

Channel 4 - Awards Ceremony - 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005

Presented by Jon Snow
Directed by Pati Marr
Produced by Nick Nairn

The Edinburgh Show

BBC One - Live from the Edinburgh Festival - 2021

Presented by Janice Forsyth
Directed by Donald Maclnness
Produced by Esme Kennedy & Monise Durrani

Angelou on Burns

BBC One - Maya Angelou Documentary on

Directed and Produced by Ellie Taylor

Fight Club

BBC One - Loganair Documentary - 2021

Featuring the flight crew from Loganair
Directed by Steve Golley
Produced by Pete Brown

Scotland’s People

BBC Scotland - Chat Show - 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

Presented by Iain MacKinnon
Directed by Maria Stewart
Produced by LJ Chalmers

Space Cadets

Channel 4 - Science Fiction Quiz Show

Presented by Bill Bailey, Craig Charles & Greg Proops
Directed by Hamish Hamilton
Produced by Alan Clements

Susan Calman’s Fringe Benefits

BBC 1 - Live from the Edinburgh Festival - 2019

Directed by Donald Maclnness
Produced by Gillian McNeil

Edinburgh Nights

BBC One - Live Music & Chat Show from the Edinburgh Festival

Presented by Mark Lamarr
Directed by Hamish Hamilton
Produced by Jane Rogerson

Children’s TV

Olga da Polga

CBeebies - Live action drama with animals & children - 2021

Based on the books by Michael Bond
Featuring Julie Wilson Nimmo & Greg Hemphill
Directed by Michael Hines-Mackay
Produced by Jackie Savery

Maeban & Moo

BBC Alba - Puppet show - 2021

Puppeteers - Warrick Brownlow-Pike, Colin Purves & Sally Swanson
Directed by Helen Scott
Produced by Sarah Mackinnon

Chips

Clan Creative - Short Film - 2012

Featuring Peter Mullen, Sarah McCardie & Sophie Lawson
Directed by Karen Kelly
Produced by Daisy Costello

My Pet & Me

CBeebies - Animal Documentary Show - 2017

Presented by Ferne Corrigan & Rory Crawford
Directed by Neil Allan
Produced by Rachel Bazeley

Pròiseact Plòigh

BBC Alba - Science Educational Show - 2022

Presented by Professor Olive & Dr Moiteal
Directed by John Smith
Produced by Duncan MacDonald

Suspect

BBC One - Children’s - Crime detective Show

Presented by Simon Grant
Directed by David Coyle
Produced by Mathew Napier

50/50

BBC One - Children’s - Game Show

Presented by Sally Grey
Directed by Angelica Bell
Produced by Mathew Napier

Twister

STV - Children’s - Game show in the SECC

Presented by Nigel Mitchell
Directed by Dougie Napier
Produced by Kim Kinney

Balamory

CBeebies - Pre School Soap Opera - 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005

Featuring Julie Wilson Nimmo, Miles Jupp & Andrew Agnew
Directed by Helen Doherty
Produced by Brian Jameson

Funhouse

STV - Children’s Game Show

Presented by Pat Sharp
Directed by Dougie Napier
Produced by Elizabeth Partyka

Archive

McCoist & MaCaulay

BBC One - Live Music & Chat Show

Presented by Ali McCoist & Fred MaCaulay
Directed by Dominic Macdonald
Produced by Esme Kennedy

Elaine

BBC One - Elaine C. Smith’s Music & Chat Show

Directed by Justin Adams
Produced by Sarah Laurence

Jackie Mason the People’s Champion

Channel 4 Music & Chat Show

Directed by Pati Marr
Produced by Tony Moss

Hogmanay Live

BBC Scotland - Live Hogmany Show

Directed by Grigor Stirling
Produced by Esme Kennedy

Words with Wark

BBC One - Political Debate Show

Presented by Kirsty Wark
Directed by Don Coutts
Produced by Alan Clements

Sex Wars

BBC One - Gender Debate Show

Presented by Kate Adams
Directed by Pati Marr
Produced by Caroline Roberts

Offside

BBC One - Football Chat Show

Presented by Tam Cowan

Retorting Scotland

BBC Scotland - Satirical Sketch Show

Directed by John Smith
Produced by Alan de Palette

Late Flytes

BBC One - Topical Chat Show

Directed by Directed by Jeff Zycinsky
Produced by Andrew Lockyer

Know your Onions

BBC Pilot

Presented by Ainsley Harriot

Classics for Kids

BBC One - Classical Music Show

Directed by David Croft
Produced by Andrew Lockyer

Bright Sparks

BBC One - Chat show for Teens

Directed by Justin Adams
Produced by Seana Smith

What’s up Doc?

ITV - Live Saturday Morning Show

Directed by Dougie Napier
Produced by Elizabeth Partyka

Ukool Live

BBC One - Live Chat & Game Show

Directed by Trish McKenna
Produced by Ann Walker

Me Too

CBeebies - Pre School Soap

Directed by Brian Jamison
Produced by Helen Doherty

Stanley Spencer

BBC One - Docudrama for Teens

Directed by David Coyle
Produced by Mathew Napier

Victorian Scots

BBC One - Docu-Game show

Directed by Trish McKenna
Produced by Uzma Mir

Virginia Woolf

BBC One - Docudrama for Teens

Directed by David Coyle
Produced by Mathew Napier

Referees

Iain Macleod - BBC Alba

Uzma Mir - Turmeric Productions

Steve Neal - BBC One

Duncan Macleod - Beezr Media

Gareth Gordon - QTV

John Smith - BBC Scotland