2016-2020

This body of work investigates the DIY practices of cigar box guitar makers, exploring how this practice differs from other DIY practices. Disseminated widely through peer reviewed journal articles, conference presentations and documentary films this research is part of his ongoing enquiry into the relationship between amateur and professional design practices.

Primary ethnographic research involved semi-structured in-depth interviews with cigar box guitar makers and performers, observational research at public cigar box performances and events, as well as participatory ethnographic research through Atkinson making and performing publicly with a cigar box guitar.

The collaboration with Virginia Heath in the making of the documentary films illuminated the skill and culture of this particular group of makers and performers to a significantly wider audience. The documentary short “Three Chords and the Truth” has been screened at six International Film Festivals around the world, and the longer documentary “Cigar Box Blues: The Makers of a Revolution” was broadcast by BBC One in December 2019 and again by BBC Four in December 2020.