In the heart of Shoreditch and Hoxton—London’s vibrant hub of artists, innovators, and design-led thinkers—stands a workshop that has quietly helped shape the creative landscape for decades.
Capital Models, founded in 1994 by husband-and-wife team Robert and Marcia Danton-Rees, is more than just a model making studio; it is a trusted creative partner to some of the city’s most forward-thinking architects, designers, and artists.
With 45 years of combined experience, this family-run business has become renowned for its exceptional craftsmanship, unwavering dedication and the kind of personal service that can only come from a small, passionate team. Their reputation—now firmly established across the creative and design industries—has been earned project by project, through honesty, precision, and an extraordinary ability to capture the true essence of an idea.
Craft Meets Technology
While Capital Models was founded on traditional skills, the team has never stopped evolving. In 2000, they purchased their first laser cutter—a decision that not only expanded their technical capabilities but ultimately led to the establishment of sister company Swordfish Works, their dedicated laser cutting and CNC brand.
What began as a single machine grew into a multi-machine setup featuring advanced laser cutters and a 3-axis CNC machine. With this expansion, the team began supporting an even broader spectrum of Shoreditch’s creative community—from artists producing intricate installations to designers crafting bespoke jewellery, furniture, signage, or experimental structures.
Swordfish Works now stands as one of East London’s most efficient and innovative digital-fabrication hubs. Their small, highly skilled team is known for embracing unusual ideas, experimenting with materials, and pushing technical boundaries. For local creatives navigating tight deadlines and ambitious concepts, this combination of speed, precision and open-mindedness is invaluable.
A Creative Anchor in a Creative District
Shoreditch has long been a magnet for experimenters and makers—people who push visual and structural boundaries. In this energetic environment, Capital Models and Swordfish Works play a crucial role. Their workshop, situated in the thriving community hub called Perseverance Works, offers something invaluable to the area’s creatives: a place where imagination, technical expertise and practical collaboration meet.
Many long-term clients continue to choose Capital Models and Swordfish Works because the team understands what makes Shoreditch and the surrounding East London area unique: bold ideas, a readiness to innovate and a desire for craftsmanship that feels personal.
The studio’s open, collaborative approach mirrors the neighbourhood’s ethos. Whether it’s helping refine a concept, advising on materials, or problem-solving complex structures, the team welcomes clients into the process, turning projects into shared creative journeys.
A Workshop Built on Relationships
Both Capital Models and Swordfish Works operate with the same core values: discretion, integrity, craftsmanship and collaboration. While only a small fraction of their projects appear publicly, due to the sensitive nature of many commissions, their influence can be traced across the city in architectural models, art pieces, prototypes, graffiti murals and installations.
Services include:
- Consultancy and technical guidance
- Traditional model making and specialist craft techniques
- Laser cutting and CNC machining
- Repairs, updates, and restoration
- Lighting integration
- A full workshop with multiple disciplines under one roof
For Shoreditch’s artists and designers, the appeal isn’t simply the quality of the work, it’s the partnership. Clients know they can drop in, discuss ideas, refine approaches, and see their projects evolve in real time. This hands-on interaction has created long-lasting relationships, some of which have endured since the company’s early days.
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