About

A workshop for software

Smithies is simply our name — Jonathan and Amanda Smithies — though we'll admit the echo isn't lost on us. A smithy is a workshop where things are forged to order, by hand, made to fit. That's exactly how we work: not the same thing off a production line for everyone, but the right thing, made to solve your problem.

Who we are

Two people, one studio

Smithies Studio is Jonathan and Amanda Smithies — a husband-and-wife team who build software together and look after it for the long term. Between us, we cover both halves of a good project: the technical craft of building the right thing, and the communication, organisation and care that make it genuinely easy to be our client.

The technical side

Jonathan Smithies

Jonathan is the software engineer behind everything we ship, with 10+ years spent turning awkward business problems into software that fits. Having both freelanced and worked within established software teams, he pairs deep technical expertise with a practical sense of how businesses actually operate. He leads the technical side — designing, building and maintaining the work — and stays focused on solutions that are dependable, scalable, well designed and easy to use.

Everything around it

Amanda Smithies

Amanda looks after everything around the build — client communication and project management, contracts, design, the running of the studio, and how we put AI to work behind the scenes. She brings a law degree and a background in mediation, cross-cultural communication and business management — which is exactly why working with us tends to feel clear, well-organised and properly looked after.

Our philosophy

It’s not personal, it’s business

Being just the two of us is the point. You deal directly with the people doing the work — not a salesperson who hands you off the moment you sign. We can be choosy about the work we take, give every project proper attention, and there's always a real, named person on the hook for getting it right. When a project needs a specialist we don't have between us, we bring in someone we trust — and tell you who!

How we think

Four things we won't compromise on

We solve the problem, not just the brief.

People often ask us for a specific thing. Sometimes it's spot on. Often, once we understand the business, there's a simpler or better route to what they actually want — so we say so. You're paying for our judgement, not just our hands.

We talk in plain English.

Most of our clients aren't technical, and don't need to be. Clear communication isn't an afterthought for us — it's one of our actual backgrounds. The technology is our job; running your business is yours. We'll explain what matters in words you can act on, and keep the jargon out of your way.

We build things to last.

Anything works on launch day. The trick is building something that still works well in three years, as your business changes — because we're usually the ones still looking after it.

We stay.

We're not here to build something and vanish. The best work comes from a long relationship, where we know your business well enough to keep making it better. Many of our clients have been with us for years.

Who we work with

A technical partner you can rely on

We work mostly with small and medium-sized businesses that have outgrown spreadsheets, manual workarounds and off-the-shelf tools — and want a technical partner they can rely on, not a one-off supplier. Based in Chepstow, working with clients across the UK and internationally.

Manoj KhetiaFormer CEO, Identitech

Partnering with Smithies Studio to build the Identitech platform was the best decision we could have made. They guided it from concept to launch, delivering a secure, award-winning, end-to-end identity verification solution that balances real business goals with genuine craft. A top-tier partner and a true asset to any organisation.

Ian GibbinsDirector, Web Intuitive

I've worked with Smithies Studio for many years, and their technical expertise is outstanding. They approach complex projects with precision and care, consistently delivering reliable, high-quality work — and they're approachable and professional throughout. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking for a trusted development partner.

Jonny AllbutFormer Head of UX, Illustrate Digital

I worked closely with Smithies Studio for well over a year, on the quality assurance, testing and overall UX side of a complex web app. They're highly skilled and resourceful, and work in a genuinely collaborative way — with a real capacity for deep thought and input. Always receptive and friendly, and clearly passionate about what they do, which shows in the high quality of the work.

Let's talk

Tell us what's slowing your business down

A free, plain-English call. No jargon, no obligation — just a clear view of what's possible.

Book a free call →See what we build

hello@smithies.studio · United Kingdom