UK software engineer and craftsman Mat Brown has been working with resin in his wood pieces--taking a "slightly different approach" than just using the epoxy to simply repair knots and defects, he says.

Brown was working with a chestnut slab for shelving recently. In filling the knotholes, he experimented with a UV-reactive, chemiluminescent pigment--a blue, "glow-in-the-dark" coloring agent.

After mixing the pigmented resin thoroughly, and allowing it to cure for several days, Brown planed and sanded the boards before applying a hand-rubbed linseed oil finish.

The end result is both strong and eye-catching, emphasizing the character of the cracked ends rather than discarding them or attempting to hide them.

Brown also owns and operates the company, Shinium, through which he sells handcrafted rings, wood pendants and wood stands for iPads and other tech devices.