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