OUR STORY
MAKING A BUZZ WITH BUSY BEE
“Busy Bee” epitomises the people behind the brand; working tirelessly to produce quality products, help the honey-bee, and share their unique story with the world.
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Handbuilt in England, these bespoke instruments are the combined works of luthier, Leigh Dovey and illustrator, Katie Nicholas. While Leigh makes our iconic ukuleles, Katie illustrates the journey through charming imagery, inviting people to see inside this unique brand.
In a world today where almost everything is mass produced and made overseas, we wanted to do things a little differently. As the demand for hand-crafted products grows, we are conscious of remaining affordable, maintaining quality and being accessible to all. We cherish our English roots, the craft of luthiery, and being true to our own creativity.
Taking a personal approach to our homegrown brand, we aim to stimulate a buzz with our iconic products, story and ethical interests in saving the honeybee. Along the way, hoping to ignite and inspire other’s creativity, because if we can make a buzz then you can too!
Award winning singer songwriter, who quickly gained recognition for the filming, animating and designing of her own music videos, capturing audiences with her intricate lyrics and endearing presence on stage.
All while doing so, Katie pursued a successful career in advertising, designing for major brands such as Canon, Loreal, HSBC and many more. As her occupational opportunities advanced, expanding her professional portfolio, she always felt there was something else she should be doing…
Wishing to pursue her own dreams alongside her hectic job, during this time the initial idea of Busy Bee came to fruition yet there was something missing… it all began in 2014 whereby Katie set up an online community, helping other independent musicians, much like herself, “make a buzz around their music” without the aid of major companies. Connecting photographers, designers, videographers and musicians, believing that by developing their own personal branding and image organically, that you don’t need to be signed to be the Bees Knees.
At the time, Katie reinforced this ethos by the work she was doing on her own musical content, album launch and planning her own campaigns… but she soon became tired by the demands of her job and struggled to uphold her creative dreams. At the point where she had to stop and reconsider what she really wanted to do with her life… as if by magic, Leigh turned up.
Already known on the scene for his beautifully crafted custom electric guitars, luthier Leigh tirelessly produced many beautiful works for successful bands including You Me At Six, Four Year Strong, Lewis Watson and many more - all alongside his full time job at the Royal Opera House as a senior sound engineer.
Born and bred in London, Leigh took to making musical instruments as a bridge between his own musical passions and his inherited woodworking gifts, passed on from his late father who was a carpenter.
Working in such a prestigious and noteworthy place, during those 12 years, Leigh made the time for his creative pursuits wherever he could - alongside producing bespoke electric guitars for major bands at the time, he himself was in a successful touring band which turned heads wherever they went. During this time, he continued his luthiery, working over hours in his workshop - the shed at the bottom of the garden. His first guitar he recalls being pieced together in parts on the kitchen table with an array of scattered tools and materials.
As the demands of work and play began to take it’s toll, becoming a tiresome fight for something more, Leigh always felt he was meant to be doing something else yet relied heavily on the familiar safety of his stable job. As time became more limited, a rethink of his aspirations began to slowly dawn on him… that was, until he met Katie.