Mike Robinson, an engineer from Plumstead, South-East London, has taken top spot in the garden’s most coveted competition, Cuprinol Shed of the Year. His space-saving super structure, ‘The Tiny Workshop’, was crowned champ after coming top of the ‘Workshop/Studio’ category following public voting and selected as overall winner by a judging panel.
‘The Tiny Workshop’ may be small, but it is mighty. Designed to slot neatly into a garden with limited room, it wowed judges with its imaginative use of space. With off-the-shelf sheds too big for his plot, Mike built the shed using two sets of heavy-duty steel shelving, bolted together and clad with wood painted in Cuprinol Garden Shades – Black Ash. Splashes of colour have also been added throughout, with the inside doors and pallet seating decorated with Cuprinol Garden Shades – Wild Thyme, and saw horses and a ladder finished with Emerald Stone.
Two doors flap open at the bottom and top to provide flooring and handy rain protection, with a smart overhanging green roof to store garden tools and welcome nature to the garden.
Built over the course of a few weekends, the industrial-feeling shed wears multiple hats: toolshed, workshop, storage space – and the perfect place to potter on a long summer’s evening: “We needed a good bit of storage for the garden necessities. Off-the-shelf options would have taken up too much room so went with a DIY design and build,” Mike explains. “I think ‘The Tiny Workshop’ has worked a treat. It’s a creative space where I can tinker and mend, as well as have the storage space for garden stuff, kids’ games and tools.
“I designed brackets for the old spanner handles with a 3D printer – they’re useful and give a clue to what is inside. The green roof will come into its own in the next year or so too, and I’m looking forward to seeing it come to life – the shed really is the gift that keeps on giving! I’m so happy the judged loved it too, and can’t believe I actually won.”
As part of his prize, Mike wins an overnight’s nature getaway, £1,000 in cash and £250 worth of Cuprinol product.
Marianne Shillingford, Creative and Colour Expert at Cuprinol, explains why Mike was top choice as Cuprinol Shed of the Year 2025 winner: “‘The Tiny Workshop’ is a testament to Mike’s ingenious solutions-focused creativity. From impactful use of storage, to striking balance of colour, Mike’s shed is a first-in-class example of industrial chic.
“Each hinge, handle and hanger are a marvel to look at and champion the very best of DIY genius.”
Adding to the praise of ‘The Tiny Workshop’, founder and head judge of Cuprinol Shed of the Year, Andrew Wilcox, says: “In a difficult time of paying more and getting less, ‘The Tiny Workshop’ is a shining example of what can be achieved even in the most compact of spaces.
“This year’s winner takes the competition back to its roots of championing the simple yet effective. Traditionally, sheds have just been seen as somewhere to store your tools, or perhaps somewhere to potter and play – ‘The Tiny Workshop’ takes this seemingly basic concept and turns into something so inspired but also still very practical, and truly nothing like we’ve seen before in this competition’s history. I hope Mike can inspire sheddies for years to come, and to enter the 20th Cuprinol Shed of the Year competition in 2026.”
