---
title: "About Fiona & Paul | Swish Customs, Hevingham, Norfolk"
description: "Swish Customs is trimmer Fiona Powell and boat builder Paul, working from a small workshop in Hevingham near Norwich since 1995. See their own T6.1 camper in VWt magazine."
url: https://swishcustoms.co.uk/about/
site: "Swish Customs"
published: 2026-09-24
modified: 2026-09-24
language: en-GB
---

# About Fiona & Paul

**About Swish Customs

## Fiona & Paul. A trimmer and a boat builder.

Swish Customs is run by Fiona Powell, a marine and automotive upholsterer trimming since 1995, with her partner Paul, a boat builder by trade, on the woodwork, fitting and everything that has to be square before the upholstery goes on.

 [Work with us](https://swishcustoms.co.uk/contact/)
 [Read the VWt feature](#feature)

![Seats marked up in chalk in the workshop](https://swishcustoms.co.uk/wp-content/themes/swish-customs/assets/images/chalk.jpg)

![Leather and fabric rolls on the cutting table](https://swishcustoms.co.uk/wp-content/themes/swish-customs/assets/images/fabrics.jpg)

![Embroidered Swish Customs logo on a seat](https://swishcustoms.co.uk/wp-content/themes/swish-customs/assets/images/embroid.jpg)

 **The two of us

## Small on purpose

Every job goes through our own hands, from the first photo you send to the last fixing. That’s the point of a small workshop.

### Fiona Powell

 Trimmer & owner

Marine and automotive upholsterer since 1995. Fiona patterns, cuts and sews everything that leaves the workshop, and is known for carrying a signature detail, the star from her marine canopies, through to the vans and cars she trims. Lifelong VW owner; the workshop van is her own T6.1.

### Paul

 Boat builder & fitter

A boat builder by trade, Paul handles the woodwork, bases, frames and fitting: bed frames re-welded to height, ply panels hand-routed, brackets designed and made. If the upholstery sits perfectly, it’s usually because the structure underneath does.

**As featured in VWt magazine

## Our own van, on the cover spread.

VWt ran an eight-page feature on Fiona’s T6.1, a long-wheelbase van bought to carry two e-bikes that turned into a full camper build, with the seats, bed, cushions, panels and storage bags all trimmed in the workshop and the woodwork by Paul.

![VWt magazine opening spread of Fiona's T6.1 camper](https://swishcustoms.co.uk/wp-content/themes/swish-customs/assets/images/mag_cover.jpg)

![Magazine spread showing the van interior](https://swishcustoms.co.uk/wp-content/themes/swish-customs/assets/images/mag_interior.jpg)

![Magazine spread showing the bike pod and storage](https://swishcustoms.co.uk/wp-content/themes/swish-customs/assets/images/mag_spread2.jpg)

> Lots of unique, bespoke furniture and upholstery. Nothing off the shelf, and all of it removable.

- Twin swivel captain’s seats in black leather & carbon Alcantara
- Pull-out bed converted to a removable bench
- Marine-grade textured vinyl panels with a star motif
- Storage bags on the quarter panels and barn door

 **How we work

## Three things we won’t compromise on

01

### Pattern from the real thing

Never a template. Your seats, your hull, your panels, marked up and patterned so the fit is exact.

02

### The right material for the job

Marine-grade where it lives outside, automotive leather and wool where it lives inside. Samples in your hand before you decide.

03

### Finished means finished

Fitted, checked and handed back complete, with the structure underneath as good as the trim on top.

## Come and see the workshop.

Visits by appointment. Bring the boat, the van, or just a few photos and a fabric idea. Hevingham, Norwich, Norfolk, NR10.

 [Book a visit](https://swishcustoms.co.uk/contact/)
 [Follow @Swishcustoms_](https://www.instagram.com/Swishcustoms_)

## Tell us about your boat or vehicle.

A couple of photos and a rough idea of what you’re after is plenty to start. We’ll come back to you with options, materials and an honest estimate.

 [Request a quote](https://swishcustoms.co.uk/contact/)
 [07919 285517](tel:07919285517)

Email[[email protected]](https://swishcustoms.co.uk/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c8aea1a7a6a988bbbfa1bba0abbdbbbca7a5bbe6aba7e6bda3)

WorkshopHevingham, Norwich, Norfolk, NR10

HoursVisits by appointment

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556215430379)[@Swishcustoms_](https://www.instagram.com/Swishcustoms_)

---
Source: https://swishcustoms.co.uk/about/