Ben Court

By day I'm a screenwriter for Film and Television and by night and weekends, a luthier under the moniker 'Joe Doe' who produces unique, custom built guitars with imaginary backstories. Why? Because I'm fascinated how a familiar object can be transformed by the power of a good story. Imagine you're holding a chipped glass ashtray, made sometime in the 1960's. Nothing remarkable about it, seems destined for the trash.. but wait! Don't throw it away yet! If I told you it actually belonged to Elvis Presley who used it while he secretly smoked cigars in the bath, it suddenly becomes a historical artefact, and for some, a holy relic. See? That humble ashtray combined with a story has changed before your eyes! So that's what I do, using a guitar as a blank canvas, I combine storytelling, art and design to add magic and intrigue to an otherwise ordinary, familiar object.

BSc Hons Electronic Imaging and Media Communications, Bradford University

National Film and Television School, Beaconsfield

Professional Screenwriter for over 25 years.

Luthier selling guitars worldwide since 2018.

London International Guitar Show 2018, 2019.

NAMM show, Los Angeles 2020