About Me

Built to Last: My Journey from Carpentry to Creativity

đŸȘš The Carpenter’s Apprentice

It all started with wood. As a trained carpenter, I learned the value of precision, patience, and process — the smell of sawdust, the feel of hand-planed timber, and the odd bruised thumb. Carpentry wasn’t just a trade — it was a discipline that shaped how I think, solve problems, and create.

I’ve always believed:

“The tool is only as good as the person using it.”

That mindset has stuck with me through every chapter since.

đŸ„ Carrera Drums: Craft Meets Rhythm

In 2009, I founded Carrera Drums — a handmade drum company based in my small Uxbridge workshop. I brought the skills from my woodworking background into the world of rhythm, building everything from custom snare drums to full shell kits using birch, maple, and bubinga.

My work caught attention quickly:

  • In 2010, MusicRadar praised Carrera for offering “amazing sounds” and “good value for handmade instruments.”
  • By 2015, they called Carrera “a master drum builder” with “construction, finish and sound that blew us away.”
    (MusicRadar Review)

Carrera Drums became known not just for their sound, but for their craftsmanship and care. Even other builders like Pork Pie used my shells in their own designs.

🌄 A New Canvas

In 2015, due to health issues, I stepped away from drum building. It wasn’t easy.

“When health made me stop drumming, I didn’t stop making. I just found a new canvas.”

That new canvas became the road.

With a camera in my bag and two wheels under me, I set off to rediscover that same joy of building — this time in the form of stories, photos, and adventure.

📾 Dave’s Adventures UK

Now, I share those stories on my YouTube channel: Dave’s Adventures UK.
It’s part Vespa rides, part camping chaos, part photography, and a big part of just living curiously — even if it rains.

đŸ€– The New Tools: AI & Creativity

More recently, I’ve teamed up with ChatGPT, using AI like a new kind of power tool. It helps me shape video ideas, slogans, designs, and keep the creative process flowing.

“You don’t question a carpenter for using a power drill instead of a hand auger. This is just a new kind of tool.”

The spirit of craftsmanship hasn’t gone anywhere — it’s just evolved.

🚀 What’s Next?

This isn’t about going viral. It’s about making something that lasts.
From wood, to rhythm, to roads and reels — it’s all part of the same journey.

So whether you’re here for the bikes, the builds, or the banter — welcome.

Let’s keep creating.
– Dave