BBC The Repair Shop's Dominic Chinea candidly shares personal struggle as he claims crafting 'saves lives'
BBC The Repair Shop: Dominic Chinea has opened up about his struggle with dyslexia
BBC
Dominic Chinea has opened up on how his love for crafts has not only provided him with a life-altering career, but has helped others overcome mental health battles.
The restoration expert has helped out dozens of guests in The Repair Shop barn over the years and has also fronted his own show, Make It At Market.
Throughout his time on-screen, Chinea has been able to meet an array of different people who either want their treasured belongings restored to former glory or are looking to get involved in the crafts themselves.
And through the latter, Chinea has admitted he's been able to see firsthand the positive impact crafts can have on someone's wellbeing - similar to the one it had on him.
"With craft and mental health there’s a real big link," Chinea recently opened up. "Mental health is a big thing and craft can help anybody.
"Crafting doesn’t have to be a career. There are so many people whose lives have been affected and saved and changed by doing a craft.
BBC The Repair Shop: Dominic Chinea and Jay Blades have been familiar figures in the barn
BBC
"Lots of people on Make It At Market have been through horrendous things in their lives, then they picked up the craft as a way of dealing with what they’ve gone through, to calm down and relax.
"It has literally saved their lives. They’re not trying to make millions of pounds from it, it’s just about doing and making something."
He added to the Mirror that he faced his own bout of uncertainty over his future after studying graphic design at university and fearing a life in an office behind a desk awaited him.
Chinea was also diagnosed with dyslexia - similar to co-star Jay Blades - but he didn't let that struggle stand in his way.
BBC The Repair Shop: Dominic Chinea works closely with his fellow experts
BBC
"I’ve got a graphic design degree. I like designing and typography and photography but I very quickly realised I’m quite dyslexic.
"I’m not very good at academic stuff and sitting behind a desk staring at a computer," he told the publication.
While Chinea may have explored craftsmanship as a career over graphic design, his skills in the field still come in handy while he's in the shed.
Speaking to the BBC ahead of the latest series of The Repair Shop, Chinea explained how his background helps him when it comes to the "problem-solving" side of restorations.
When asked about the most rewarding part of being in the barn, he said: "For me, the problem-solving side of it is what I love the most, everything has got a different challenge and I quite like finding a solution for whatever the problem is.
"I have quite a mixed media background and I find myself quite often using that resource of dipping back into that old knowledge.
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BBC The Repair Shop: Dominic Chinea often gets to grips with the restorations on the show
BBC
"I've got a graphic design degree as well which comes in quite handy when we're fixing something and then realise it's missing a sticker...
"I can then use my typography skills to redraw and recreate it, so having that pool of knowledge is really helpful."