Behind the Brush | The Painter and Decorator Podcast

Behind The Brush | The Painter and Decorator Podcast

Behind the Brush | The Painter and Decorator Podcast Behind the Brush is where painters, decorators and finishing professionals come together for real conversations about the people behind the trade. Hosted by Gerard Donaghy from Paintworks NI Academy, each episode goes beyond paint and tools to explore the journeys, struggles, successes and lessons of some of the industry’s most respected professionals. From business growth and pricing to mental health, family life, social media, craftsmanship and leadership, nothing is off limits. Whether you’re just starting out or have decades of experience, every guest has a story worth hearing and something valuable to share. New episodes feature honest, unfiltered conversations with decorators, business owners, manufacturers and industry leaders from across Ireland, the UK and beyond. If you’re passionate about painting and decorating, want to improve your business, and enjoy hearing the real stories behind the people shaping our industry, you’re in the right place. Real. Raw. Relatable. Welcome to Behind the Brush.

  1. 5d ago

    Behind The Brush | The Painter and Decorator Podcast | Episode 35 with Gerry Donaghy

    Episode 35 – Two GFA Awards, Business, Mindset & Knowing Your Worth | Gerry Donaghy In Episode 35 of Behind the Brush – The Painter & Decorator Podcast, it's just me, your host, Gerry Donaghy, reflecting on an incredible week. I was absolutely honoured to walk away from the GFA Awards with not one, but TWO awards – Mentor of the Year and Northern Ireland Decorator of the Year! I talk about what winning these awards means to me, the journey that's brought me here and, more importantly, the incredible people I had the pleasure of meeting along the way. For me, it was about so much more than awards. It was about community, friendship, supporting one another and celebrating the fantastic people who make our trade what it is. A brilliant weekend, plenty of laughs and memories. We also get into some proper business talk, covering: Pricing blindly – why so many decorators are working hard without really knowing what they're earning. Systems and profitability – why having the right systems in place is where the real money is made. Comparison is the thief of joy – the dangers of comparing yourself to others, judging people and forgetting that we're all on different journeys and at different stages. Protecting your mindset – staying focused on your own path, believing in yourself and never allowing anyone to dim your light. Attracting the right customers – building a reputation and brand that attracts the type of work and people you actually want to work with. Planning ahead – getting organised for December and January, managing your workload and keeping your business moving in the right direction. One thing I've learned over the years is that success looks different for everyone. You don't need the biggest business, the most employees or the most vans to be successful. Focus on your own journey, become the best version of yourself and build a business that works for you. We're all at different stages, we've all made mistakes and we've all got something to learn from one another. There's absolutely no reason why we can't encourage, support and help the next person coming through. As always, it's real experiences, honest opinions, a bit of craic and plenty of passion for the trade we love. Real. Raw. Relatable. Behind the Brush – The Painter & Decorator Podcast Keep 'er lit

  2. 5d ago

    Behind The Brush | The Painter and Decorator Podcast | Episode 34 with Gerry Donaghy and Guests

    Episode 34 – GFA Finalists, Wallpapering, Pricing & Proper Paint Talk | Gerry Donaghy & Conor McClelland In Episode 34 of Behind the Brush – The Painter & Decorator Podcast, it's me, your host, Gerry Donaghy, celebrating some of the incredible talent we have right here in Northern Ireland! i had invited some of our Northern Irish finalists to join me for a chat about the awards, their journeys in the trade and what being recognised for their work means to them. I was delighted to have Conor McClelland jump on for a brief chat, giving us the chance to get to know him a little better, hear about his work and find out what being a finalist meant to him. We then got stuck into plenty of proper paint talk. I then discussed recent wallpapering posts, pricing jobs correctly, planning and sequencing work, choosing the right products and tools, and the importance of building your reputation and your brand. As always, I shared some of my own experiences, opinions and lessons learned along the way, talking about the realities of being a painter and decorator, the challenges of running a business and why continuing to learn, improve and support one another is so important. One thing I'm passionate about is seeing our trade get the recognition it deserves. Whether you're an apprentice just starting out, a sole trader or running a team, there's room for everyone to succeed. Another relaxed, honest and unscripted conversation with plenty of craic, shared experiences and a genuine passion for painting and decorating. Real. Raw. Relatable. Behind the Brush – The Painter & Decorator Podcast Keep 'er lit!

  3. 5d ago

    Behind The Brush | The Painter and Decorator Podcast | Episode 33 with Rory Morgan then Baz from The Decorators Den Podcast

    Episode 33 – Rory Morgan & Baz from Decorators Den | Paint Talk, Tools & Trade Chat In Episode 33 of Behind the Brush – The Painter & Decorator Podcast, I'm joined by Rory Morgan, a talented painter and decorator from Killinchy, Northern Ireland. We kick things off chatting about Rory's journey in the trade, working alongside his uncle, his passion for decorating, wallpapering, commercial projects and being recognised as a finalist at the GFA Awards. Unfortunately, technology had other ideas! With signal issues interrupting our conversation, we had to cut Rory's appearance short. But that's live podcasting for you! Thankfully, Baz from The Decorators Den Podcast jumped on and kept the conversation flowing! What followed was a proper bit of paint talk, covering paints, products, tools, techniques, experiences in the trade and plenty of opinions along the way. We also had a fantastic crowd getting involved live from YouTube and Facebook, throwing in questions, sharing experiences and joining the conversation. No scripts, no fancy production, just decorators having a good old-fashioned chat about the trade we love! A massive thank you to Rory, Baz and everyone who joined us live. We’ll definitely get Rory back on for a proper uninterrupted conversation! Whether you're an apprentice, a seasoned professional or simply passionate about painting and decorating, get stuck in and enjoy the craic! Real. Raw. Relatable. Behind the Brush – The Painter & Decorator Podcast Keep 'er lit!

  4. 6d ago

    Behind The Brush | The Painter and Decorator Podcast | Episode 32 with Gerry Donaghy

    Episode 32 – Let's Talk Paint, Business & Life | Gerry Donaghy In this episode of Behind the Brush – The Painter & Decorator Podcast, it's just me, your host, Gerry Donaghy, getting stuck into an honest, open conversation about the painting and decorating trade, running a business and everything that comes with it. We dive into some of the biggest challenges facing self-employed painters and decorators, from pricing jobs correctly, managing cash flow and getting paid on time to understanding the difference between turnover and actual profit. We also chat about the realities of working for yourself, running a team versus going solo, employing people, choosing the right jobs and learning when to say NO! There's plenty of talk about quality versus speed, building your reputation, using social media to grow your brand, training, personal development and what being successful really means. I also share some of my own experiences, mistakes and lessons learned along the way, including the importance of managing your money, looking after yourself and building a business that works for YOU, rather than one that takes over your life. As always, it's an open, down to earth conversation with questions, opinions and contributions from the live audience. Whether you're an apprentice, an experienced decorator or running your own business, there's something here for everyone. Because ultimately, we're all learning, we're all trying to improve, and there's room for every one of us to do well. Real. Raw. Relatable. Behind the Brush – The Painter & Decorator Podcast Keep 'er lit!

  5. 6d ago

    Behind The Brush | The Painter and Decorator Podcast | Episode 31 with Thomas Goodchild

    Behind the Brush – The Painter & Decorator Podcast | Thomas Goodchild In this episode of Behind the Brush, I'm joined by Thomas Goodchild, a professional painter and decorator with over 15 years of experience in the trade. We get stuck into Thomas's journey, from his early days in decorating to building his business, specialising in UPVC spraying, kitchen transformations and traditional painting and decorating. We chat about the realities of running a decorating business, the challenges that come with it, pricing your work, investing in your setup and the lessons learned along the way. Thomas also shares his experience of working from a container-based workshop, the ups and downs of dealing with customers and projects, and why things don't always go according to plan! As always, it's an honest, down to earth conversation about the trade we love, with plenty of laughs, real experiences and advice for decorators at every stage of their journey. Whether you're just starting out, working for yourself or looking to grow your business, there's something in this conversation for everyone. Real. Raw. Relatable. Behind the Brush – The Painter & Decorator Podcast Keep 'er lit! 🔥

  6. Sep 27

    Behind The Brush | The Painter and Decorator Podcast | Episode 30 with Sean Kelly

    In this episode of Behind the Brush, I’m joined by Sean Kelly, who shares his story of  43 years in the painting and decorating trade so far. We go right back to where it all began, how Sean got into the industry, how the trade has changed over the decades, and some of the biggest lessons he’s learned along the way. We also get into the realities of being self-employed, the pressures that can come with running your own business, mental health, suicide prevention, family, cycling, staying active, giving back to the industry, and the importance of looking after yourself as well as your business. Sean has a huge amount of experience, but what really comes through is his perspective on life, work, community and helping others. A proper honest conversation with plenty of stories, lessons and advice from more than four decades in the trade. Real. Raw. Relatable. 🎙️ Behind the Brush with Sean Kelly

  7. Aug 27

    Behind The Brush | The Painter and Decorator Podcast | Episode 28 with Danielle Donaghy

    Behind the Brush with Danielle Donaghy | Business, Family, Sacrifice & What Success Really Means This might be one of the most important and personal conversations we’ve had on Behind the Brush. I’m joined by my wife and business partner, Danielle, for an honest conversation about what it really takes to build a business while trying to build a life and raise a family at the same time. We look back at our journey from two young people trying to figure it all out, through growing Paintworks, taking risks, employing teams, investing in vans, equipment and premises, making mistakes and learning some very expensive lessons along the way. But this episode is about much more than business. We talk about the pressure that comes home with you, being physically present but mentally still at work, the sacrifices families make behind successful businesses, money, parenting, relationships, learning when bigger isn’t necessarily better, and how our definition of success has completely changed over the years. Danielle also shares her side of the journey - raising our family, working behind the scenes in the business, supporting my ambitions and carrying responsibilities that people on the outside rarely see. This conversation isn’t about pretending we got everything right. We absolutely didn’t. It’s about sharing what we’ve learned so that another painter, tradesperson, business owner, husband, wife or young couple starting out might recognise themselves in our story and perhaps avoid some of the mistakes we made. If you’re building a business and a family at the same time, this episode is for you. What are you actually building - a bigger business, or a better life?

  8. Aug 20

    Behind The Brush | The Painter and Decorator Podcast | Episode 27 with Adam Hughes

    🎙️ Behind the Brush – Adam Hughes | Starting From Scratch at 26 This week I’m joined by Adam Hughes from AH Painting for a really raw, relatable and good craic episode. Adam has a teaching degree, travelled through Thailand and eventually came home with a decision made -he was going to back himself and start his own painting business. Only six months in, we talk about the reality of starting out at 26. Buying his first van outright to keep his overheads down, struggling to get his pricing right, becoming VAT registered, finding a good accountant, dealing with a customer who didn’t pay and learning the hard way why terms and conditions matter. We also go right back to where it started — the painter who took Adam under his wing when he was younger, the lessons that stuck with him, his hunger to earn money and how those early experiences shaped the way he works today. We get into his love for spraying, where he wants to take AH Painting, what success actually means to him and the pressures and pain points that come with trying to build a business in your 20s. What made this one especially interesting for me is that Adam started his business at 26 - exactly the same age I was when I went out on my own. Two completely different stages of the journey, but a lot of the same lessons. Over two hours of honest conversation, plenty of laughs and absolutely no pretending to have it all figured out. If you’re a young painter, recently self-employed or even thinking about going out on your own, there’s plenty in this one for you.

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About

Behind the Brush | The Painter and Decorator Podcast Behind the Brush is where painters, decorators and finishing professionals come together for real conversations about the people behind the trade. Hosted by Gerard Donaghy from Paintworks NI Academy, each episode goes beyond paint and tools to explore the journeys, struggles, successes and lessons of some of the industry’s most respected professionals. From business growth and pricing to mental health, family life, social media, craftsmanship and leadership, nothing is off limits. Whether you’re just starting out or have decades of experience, every guest has a story worth hearing and something valuable to share. New episodes feature honest, unfiltered conversations with decorators, business owners, manufacturers and industry leaders from across Ireland, the UK and beyond. If you’re passionate about painting and decorating, want to improve your business, and enjoy hearing the real stories behind the people shaping our industry, you’re in the right place. Real. Raw. Relatable. Welcome to Behind the Brush.

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