About the makers:
Dean 'Boydie' Boyd
Dean joined the army at the age of 16, where he trained as a welder/blacksmith with the Royal Engineers. Dean had always understood the importance of having a good kit to hand, often making his own tools and customizing equipment to be able to function with better efficiency when on operations, he served multiple tours of duty all over the world, spending many months honing his survival skills in the jungles of Central America.
Leaving his army career behind him in the middle of 2010, Dean took on a role as a senior bushcraft and survival instructor where he passed on his unique skills over the following 12 months. All the while, Dean continued making knives in partnership with Joel, giving them away as gifts to fellow instructors and friends. It was here that the first commissions were generated.
In Jan 2011 Dean decided to leave the bushcraft school and, along with Joel, decided to follow his heart and pursue his true passion as a bladesmith, knife maker and leather worker. As well as being a bladesmith Dean acts as Managing Director, and production manager for Emberleaf, he also personally makes all the leather sheaths along with being the laser engraving specialist.
Joel Andreas
Joel built his first knife at the age of 14 and a passion for this craftsmanship and art was born. As years passed, and with no realisation that this calling could possibly provide a career, at the age of 19 Joel joined the British army as a Royal Engineer. He eventually became a specialist in bomb disposal and as a member of a high-risk search team, serving all over the world.
Leaving the army in 2009 Joel went on to help to build an organisation now recognised as a leading UK-based survival and bushcraft school. It was here that Dean joined him a year later.
Together, spending their free time making knives, and with Joel continuing to learn many traditional skills in woodworking, including sawmilling, chainsaw carving and timber framing, their craft was developed.
In recent years Joel has become a specialist in CNC and CAD heading up Emberleaf’s sideline in Rapid prototyping born from the need for high-precision parts when making folding knives.
Both Dean and Joel continue today as founding directors and hands-on creators of every single knife that leaves Emberleaf Workshops Ltd premises.
Teagan Smith
Before joining the Emberleaf team, Teagan trained as a coppersmith, crafting high-end custom lamps. Her background as a skilled welder and metalworker gave her a strong foundation in precision and metal shaping—essential skills for bladesmithing. Since becoming part of Emberleaf, Teagan has quickly progressed toward becoming a full-fledged Emberleaf Bladesmith. She has already mastered several key techniques, including heat-treating and blade profiling, and is developing a keen eye for balance and edge geometry. Her dedication to craftsmanship and attention to detail are evident in every knife she helps create.
Kalista Mertens
Kalista Mertens is the latest addition to the Emberleaf team, bringing with her a sharp eye for precision and a strong technical aptitude. Since joining, she has quickly become an integral part of the workshop, mastering CNC machining and laser operations to support the production of Emberleaf’s high-performance blades. Kalista also demonstrates exceptional skill in hand sharpening—a critical and often underestimated art in bladesmithing. Her steady hands and attention to detail make her a natural in the finishing stages of knife making. With her fast-growing knowledge of materials, blade geometry, and workshop flow, Kalista is already carving out a promising path toward becoming a key Emberleaf Bladesmith.
Will Geylin
Will Geylin is Emberleaf’s resident wood specialist and a master of the lathe. With years of experience in fine woodworking and precision turning, Will brings a deep understanding of grain, texture, and form to every project. His skill with both traditional and modern woodcraft techniques makes him an invaluable asset to the team. Will is also the backbone of Emberleaf’s rapid prototyping for B2B clients, translating complex ideas into tangible prototypes with speed, accuracy, and creative problem-solving. Whether working with exotic hardwoods or engineering custom components, Will’s craftsmanship anchors the workshop in quality and innovation.