Leather Worker and Designer - Robert Ross

Robert is a self taught leather worker with qualifications in Art & Engineering Drawing. His work is of an exceptionally superior quality.

He was taught how important attention to detail is, by his father who was a passionate engineer which is reflected in the finish of all Robert’s work. Robert has an exceptional story to tell and has made gun cases in the past for Lords, various celebrities and London Gunsmiths Holland and Holland, as well as Purdey and Westley Richards.

He has also undertaken interior design work working in leather, with various projects in London, including one for David Bowie, and the covering of two desks for Roman Abramovitch.  These are all testaments to the skill, talent and quality of the work that Robert produces.

Born in Caerwys, his mother’s home town, he returned here from his fathers’ Scottish roots in 1990 and has settled into a cottage industry of leather working from his own home. He still makes cases and other quality items for famous Houses but not on the same scale as previously.

A few years ago Robert discovered an interesting story that related to the 1787 ship wreck of the Brigantine Frau Metta Catharina which had originated from the Danish port of Flensburg. It had been commissioned in 1782. At the time of the wreck in 1787 the ship was en route from St.Petersburg to Venice & Genoa with a cargo of hemp for ropes and Russian reindeer leather for boot making.

Two hundred or so years later, archaeological divers brought ashore the Russian reindeer leather which was subsequently tested and authenticated, and since then has painstakingly been restored so that a few skilful craftsmen can use the hides to produce leather goods, all of which have a unique history.

Robert was fortunate enough to be one of those skilled craftsmen and has made Attaché cases, Gladstone bags, and stud boxes for the London Houses, and various items for fly fisherman including fly wallets, fly boxes and leather handled trout priests, all from the Russian reindeer leather .

However as there is only a finite amount of the leather left and not enough for Robert to make the usual larger items, he has turned his hand to designing and making these high quality wrist bands for men. And what a wonderful gift for a man – something hand made with a historical provenance; that is limited in number; a great talking point; and a statement of how much you care!