Brush Wizards Podcast

How do you launch a completely new paint brand into an already crowded industry — and make it stand out? I sat down with Rob Green, co-founder of COAT Paints , to find out. COAT shipped its first tin of paint six years ago, after Rob and his co-founder — also called Rob 😂 — spotted what they believed was a gap for a more modern, premium and sustainable paint brand. rob-gary Rob had already worked...

I sat down with painter and decorator Gail Howes for a really relatable chat about something I think loads of us struggle with. You can be bloody good at decorating, have plenty of work coming in and still find the actual business side difficult. Gail has been decorating professionally for around eight years, after getting an opportunity to help another decorator on a job. What started with helpin...

How do you go from selling a couple of paint brushes from a staircase to building one of the best-known online businesses in the decorating trade? This week I'm joined by Megan from My Paintbrush for the story behind the business. My Paintbrush took its first order in 2012 after Megan's dad, Andy, had the idea of importing brushes from America. Megan was at university, knew her way around...

Why can a colour look amazing on a colour card… and completely wrong once it's on the wall? This week on the Brush Wizards Podcast, I'm joined by qualified colour consultant Jane Holland for a fascinating conversation about something most of us decorators deal with every day — colour. Jane didn't start her colour consultancy business until she was 55, after spending 37 years working in...

Why can you be brilliant at your job and still spend Sunday worrying about Monday? In this episode of the Brush Wizards Podcast, I sit down with cognitive hypnotherapist Sarah Ariss for a really interesting conversation about anxiety, overthinking and why our brains sometimes react to danger that isn't actually there. We talk about where anxiety can come from, how experiences from years ago ca...

Polyvine has a major new product hitting the trade – 2K-POLY86, its new professional two-pack water-based polyurethane varnish. Gary is joined by Ian Wells from Polyvine to find out exactly what it is, why it has taken around three years to develop and where painters, decorators and contractors are likely to use it. They talk about the increased impact and chemical resistance offered by 2K-POLY86,...

When Birmingham Children’s Hospital saved Kevin Jackson's grandson Ted's life, Kevin decided he wanted to give something back. In this special episode of the Brush Wizards Podcast, Kevin and his son-in-law Matt join Gary Proctor to share the story behind an extraordinary fundraising journey. From climbing Snowdon at night and walking 100 miles across Scotland to trekking 70 miles through t...

Can simply being yourself help you win more decorating work? Gary Proctor is joined by John Paul Gowland , known to thousands online as "Slap It On Bosch!" John explains how social media has transformed his decorating business, why customers buy into personality just as much as workmanship, and how creating content has helped him stay consistently busy. We also chat about pricing, paints...

Why do so many painters and decorators work incredibly hard but still struggle to get ahead? In this episode, business coach and bestselling author Robin Waite joins Gary Proctor to discuss pricing, profitability, confidence and why working harder isn't always the answer. They explore: Why most decorators undercharge How to build a profitable business Pricing based on value instead of day rate...

After serving in the Army, working in recruitment and running his own gym, Steven Macfarlane found his passion in painting and decorating. Just two and a half years later, he's built a thriving decorating business with a team of 12 decorators, specialising in heritage restoration, spraying and high-end residential projects. In this episode we discuss: • Building and growing a decorating busine...

What if many of the challenges you face today actually started in childhood? In this episode, I sit down with Jackie Cooper to explore how our early experiences shape the way we think, feel and behave as adults. We discuss limiting beliefs, emotional health, relationships, people pleasing, boundaries, personal transformation and why understanding yourself is the first step towards lasting change....

What gives life meaning? In this episode I sit down with decorator Aaron Griffin for one of the most thought provoking conversations we've ever had on the Brush Wizards Podcast. We talk about Aaron's journey from youth worker to decorator, adopting children, finding purpose beyond work, community, faith, Christianity, mental wellbeing and why it's healthy to ask the biggest questions in life. This...

In this heartfelt episode, Cognitive Hypnotherapist Heather Sinfield shares how personal tragedy led her to dedicate her life to helping others navigate grief, loss and emotional trauma. Heather discusses the realities of bereavement, the importance of processing emotions rather than suppressing them, and how cognitive hypnotherapy can help people regain control of their lives. She also explains m...

In this episode of The Brush Wizards Podcast, Gary Proctor is joined by Kim Searle for a fascinating conversation about mindset, anxiety, self worth and the hidden programming that shapes our lives. Together they explore how childhood experiences can influence adult behaviour, why stress and anxiety affect people differently, and how understanding the brain and nervous system can help us make posi...

In this powerful episode of The Brush Wizards Podcast, we sit down with Steve Willicott, founder of Uncle Matt’s Hats, to talk openly about mental health, isolation, grief and why community matters more than ever. What started as a simple idea has grown into a movement helping normalise conversations around mental health through humour, honesty and human connection. Steve shares the heartbreaking...

Gene Fulton is back on the Brush Wizards Podcast 🔥 This episode is packed with honest conversations around pricing, confidence, earning more money, client communication and building a decorating business properly. We talk about: 🎯 Charging properly and valuing your work 🎯 Building confidence during site visits 🎯 Interior designers and higher end projects 🎯 Mindset shifts that helped Gene doub...

In this episode, John talks through his journey from school into the corporate world and then into painting and decorating. We cover building a business, understanding value, and why knowing your worth matters in the trade. The conversation also touches on resilience, working with others in the industry, and how community and collaboration play a big role in long term success.

In this episode, Joff Talbot talks about his journey from youth work into painting and decorating, and how mindset and personal growth have played a big role along the way. We cover learning the trade, building confidence, and dealing with challenges both on and off the job. The conversation also explores well-being, belief, and how small changes in thinking can make a difference over time. A diff...

Gary chats with Gareth Thompson about Spray Dogz , a new hanging system designed for kitchen sprayers. Gareth explains how the idea came about, why he wanted an alternative to drilling into door edges, and how he is building the brand alongside his decorating business. They also talk about spraying, kitchen resprays, working alone in the trade, and how decorators can futureproof themselves as the...

In this episode of the Brush Wizards Podcast, powered by Brewers Decorator Centres, I sit down with Scott Whitehead and Jaden to talk about getting started young in the trades and building a career in decorating. Jaden shares his journey from starting out at just 13 years old to becoming a key part of the business, while Scott talks about the realities of working with family and passing on knowled...

In this episode of The Brush Wizards Podcast, powered by Brewers Decorator Centres, Gary chats with Tim Blake about his journey from postman to full time self employed decorator. Tim shares how he fell into decorating, why he enjoys working alone, and how he built a business that suits his lifestyle. From regular customers and wallpapering to spraying, product choices and pricing, this is a real c...

In this episode of The Brush Wizards Podcast, powered by Brewers Decorator Centres, we sit down with experienced decorator Gary Marsh to talk about the reality of working in the trade today. Gary shares his journey from getting started to building a solid domestic decorating business, including why he now avoids working with builders and focuses on the type of work that suits his lifestyle. We get...

In this episode of the Brush Wizards Podcast , Gary Proctor sits down with decorator Jordan Coupe for a powerful and honest conversation about life, business and personal growth in the painting and decorating trade. Jordan shares his journey through addiction, how getting sober changed his life and the impact it has had on both his mindset and his business. He also talks openly about living with A...

In this episode of the Brush Wizards Podcast, Gary is joined by Lisa for an honest conversation about self development, mindset and becoming the best version of yourself. Lisa shares practical exercises that have helped her shift perspective, build resilience and move closer to the life she wants. From creating a clear vision of your future self to overcoming negative thinking and self sabotage, t...

In this episode of The Brush Wizards Podcast, Gary Proctor speaks with Ian Wells, Managing Director of Polyvine Ltd, as the company celebrates 40 years in business. Founded in 1986 in Cheddar, Somerset, Polyvine has grown from a specialist varnish manufacturer into a globally distributed brand — while remaining independently owned and family run. For four decades, every Polyvine product has been r...