I run Ellis Briggs as a one person workshop, specialising in the restoration, respraying, and building of high quality steel bicycle frames. Every frame that comes through the door is worked on by me, using traditional techniques and a careful, considered approach.

This is not a production workshop. I take on a limited number of projects so that each frame receives the time, attention, and judgement it deserves.

A sustainable way of working

To keep the workshop viable and the standard of work high, my time is deliberately split across a small number of closely connected activities.

Frame restoration and respraying
The core of the workshop. This includes structural repairs, preparation, and paintwork on classic and modern steel frames.

Custom framebuilding
Bespoke steel frames built from the ground up, using the same skills and techniques that inform my restoration work.

Teaching and documentation
I run framebuilding courses and produce written and filmed material about traditional steel framebuilding. This work helps pass skills on, but it also plays an important role in keeping the business financially stable without increasing the workload on the bench.

Customer communication and planning
Discussing projects, advising on options, and planning work carefully so expectations and outcomes are clear.

These activities are not separate or competing. They support each other. Teaching and documentation sharpen my skills. Writing and filming help fund the workshop in a way that allows me to work carefully rather than quickly, and to avoid over booking.

Lead times and communication

Because I manage every part of the business myself, my focus shifts throughout the year. At times I am primarily on the bench. At others I may be teaching, writing, or filming for part of the week.

Response times and availability can therefore vary. What does not vary is my approach to the work. Frames are progressed methodically, not rushed, and lead times are set to reflect that reality.

To protect bench time, some email communication is handled with limited part time administrative support. All technical decisions, planning, and responsibility for customer projects remain with me.

If you are waiting for an update, please know that work away from the bench is part of how I keep the workshop sustainable, which in turn protects the quality and completion of customer projects.

Why this approach matters

Steel framebuilding is an endangered craft. The only way it survives is if workshops are run in a way that is financially and personally sustainable.

By choosing to work with Ellis Briggs, you are not just commissioning a respray or a frame. You are supporting a way of working that prioritises skill, judgement, and longevity over speed and volume.

I value the trust customers place in me, and I aim to repay that trust with honest communication and work done properly.

If you would like to discuss a project, please get in touch.

Paul