The mind, the artist and the heart behind 3D Scotsman Studio
Gary Fitzwater
"What others once saw as a weakness, I discovered was my greatest creative strength."
Behind every extraordinary creation is a story.
My name is Gary Fitzwater, and I'm the founder and lead designer of 3D Scotsman Studio.
But my story didn't begin with a 3D printer, a workshop or a successful business. It began with a young boy whose mind worked differently.
Behind 3D Scotsman Studio is a man whose imagination never stopped working, whose mind saw possibilities where others saw limitations, and whose determination to create something meaningful transformed a lifelong passion into an award-winning Scottish design business.
Growing up with ADHD and Autism
A different mind. A different way of seeing the world.
From a very young age, I knew that I experienced the world differently. Growing up with ADHD and autism, my imagination was constantly active. My thoughts seemed to move at an extraordinary speed, often feeling as though my brain was processing a thousand ideas at once.
Where others might see a simple object, I could imagine countless ways to transform it. Where someone might see a problem, my mind would immediately begin exploring different solutions. And where others saw the world as it was, I often found myself imagining what it could become.
Throughout my childhood and education, I encountered teachers and individuals who struggled to understand the way my mind worked. What I experienced as creativity, curiosity and an endless stream of ideas was sometimes treated as a problem.
My mind wasn't something I needed to fight against. It was something I needed to understand, embrace and learn to use creatively.
The power of family, love and belief
Turning what others called a curse into something beautiful.
One of the greatest blessings in my life has been having people who believed in me, even when others didn't. My family, my wife Kirsty and our two beautiful daughters have played an enormous role in helping me recognise the value of my creativity.
They encouraged me to stop seeing my differences through the eyes of people who didn't understand them. Instead, they encouraged me to channel my imagination, energy and determination into something positive. Something meaningful. Something beautiful.
The very mind that some people struggled to understand became the mind that would eventually build 3D Scotsman Studio.
The soundtrack behind my imagination
When music becomes art.
For me, music is far more than something playing in the background. It's an essential part of how I imagine, develop and bring artistic concepts to life.
The extraordinary compositions of Hans Zimmer, Ludovico Einaudi and Enya have had a profound influence on my creativity. Their music allows me to explore emotion, movement, atmosphere and storytelling through design.
I don't just want people to see my artwork. I want them to feel something when they look at it. That philosophy has become an essential part of the 3D Scotsman design process.
The birth of 3D Scotsman Studio
When imagination finally found its purpose.
As my passion for design and creativity continued to grow, I began exploring the possibilities of digital sculpting, computer-aided design and 3D printing. I quickly realised that these technologies offered something extraordinary — they gave me the opportunity to take the ideas constantly developing in my imagination and transform them into physical creations.
I wanted to create sculptures that were different. Designs that told stories. Pieces that captured movement, emotion, imagination and personality. And most importantly, I wanted to create artwork that made people happy.
Today, alongside my talented team, I have the privilege of bringing extraordinary ideas to life for customers who share our passion for creativity. With more than 8,762 happy customers, our studio continues to grow, innovate and explore new artistic possibilities.
8,762+
Happy customers
100%
Scottish made
24/7
Creative passion
Inside the studio
3D Scotsman Studio — where it all comes to life.
Our studio is the beating heart of everything we do. Equipped with a fleet of professional Bambu Lab printers alongside our resin printing setup, it's where imagination becomes reality — layer by layer, hour by hour.
Every machine in the studio has been chosen for its precision, reliability and ability to produce the quality our customers expect. From large-scale structural prints to ultra-fine detail resin work, the studio is set up to handle the full range of what we create.
But the studio is more than equipment. It's a creative space — a place where ideas are tested, refined and brought to life with genuine care. When you commission something from 3D Scotsman Studio, this is where your creation is born.
Emily and Sophie
My greatest inspiration — my two daughters.
Of all the things I have created, nothing in my life will ever compare to being a father. I am incredibly proud to have two beautiful daughters, Emily and Sophie. They are my inspiration, my motivation and the reason I continue pushing myself to achieve more.
My youngest daughter, Sophie, has faced significant medical challenges throughout her young life. Watching her journey has changed the way I see the world. I have witnessed her courage, her resilience and her extraordinary ability to face challenges that no child should have to experience.
True bravery isn't about never being afraid. It's about finding the strength to keep going, even when life becomes difficult. Her courage inspired me to use my creativity for something far greater than producing sculptures.
Celebrating the bravery of extraordinary children
The Children's Medical Awards.
Inspired by Sophie's medical journey, my wife Kirsty and I began developing the Children's Medical Awards — a collection of meaningful awards that celebrate children facing serious medical conditions, complex treatments and extraordinary healthcare journeys.
One of the first ideas was a special Kidney Transplant Award, inspired by Sophie's own experiences. From that initial inspiration, the concept developed into a wider collection of medical awards designed to celebrate children across different areas of healthcare.
Our aim is simple: to help children feel recognised, to celebrate their strength, and to remind them that their courage matters. The initiative has received encouraging interest and support from healthcare professionals, including people working within the NHS.
Because every child facing a difficult medical journey deserves to know just how extraordinary they are.
Bringing medical education to life through imagination
Sophie and the Inside Out Adventure.
Sophie's journey also inspired me to explore another creative passion — storytelling. I wanted to find a way to help children understand their bodies, medical conditions and hospital experiences without making those subjects frightening or overwhelming.
That idea became the children's book collection: Sophie and the Inside Out Adventure. Inspired by my daughter's experiences, the series takes young readers on imaginative adventures through the human body, introducing children to different organs, medical experiences and the incredible ways their bodies work.
A little girl whose bravery continues to inspire some of my most meaningful creations.
Never allow someone else to define your potential
A message to anyone who has ever felt different.
“Never allow someone else's inability to understand you to determine what you believe you can achieve.”
Growing up, there were people who saw my ADHD and autism as obstacles. People who struggled to understand the way I thought, learned and expressed myself. But the people who truly mattered encouraged me to see things differently.
I hope my journey encourages other young people, particularly those who are neurodivergent or who have been made to feel different, to explore their own abilities and interests. Your journey doesn't have to look like anybody else's.
Sometimes the very thing that makes you different can become the thing that makes your contribution to the world extraordinary.
From my family to yours — thank you.
To every customer who has supported our journey, every person who has encouraged our creativity and everyone who believes in what we're building: thank you. Your support allows us to continue doing what we love.
Gary Fitzwater
Founder & Lead Designer, 3D Scotsman Studio
Proudly Scottish. Creatively Different. Inspired by Family.
Let's create something extraordinary together.
Whether you have a fully formed idea or just a spark of inspiration, I'd love to hear from you.