Cardiff Web Developers

Good code.
Great company.
Outstanding websites.

I'm Alex, and Glue Studio is my web development studio in Cardiff. I build Shopify, WordPress and Laravel websites for businesses, charities and public sector organisations across Wales and the UK, and for the agencies who look after them. Anyone, really, who wants a developer they can trust and who's fun to work with too.

People are the stars of the show here, not the technology. The code's just there to solve real problems in real lives. So I listen, I watch how people actually use things, and now and then I obsess a bit over how a piece of technical know-how can do what it does best, which is fix the problem and put a smile on someone's face.

Free Site Check

Rather just talk? Book a chat

Send me your website and I'll send back 3 things I'd fix

No sales pitch, no mailing list. Just an honest look and three changes that would make the biggest difference.

What I Do

I build Shopify ecommerce sites, WordPress content sites and Laravel apps. Some people come to me with the platform already picked. Some turn up with a problem and want someone who knows digital well enough to point them the right way.

I also build bilingual Welsh and English websites, and do white label WordPress development for agencies, website speed optimisation, security audits and vibe code reviews.

However you arrive, I'm happy to roll up my sleeves, challenge where it's useful, and have a proper chat about the real issues driving what you need.

How I Work

You'd expect the technical side to be solid, and it is, so I'll spare you the details. What you'll actually notice is the questions. I ask a lot of them early, usually the ones that get at what a project is really for, and the brief tends to come out sharper for it. Then I build around the people who'll use the thing day to day.

I'm also happy to sit in front of your client and explain it all in plain English, which is a part I rather enjoy. Getting to the heart of what a client actually needs is where the magic happens. And that takes good dialogue, and occasionally biscuits.

Good stuff people have said about me:

"Alex is the reason you should use a human rather than a bot to build your website. He listens to the brief, and takes the time and trouble to understand what the client really wants — as well as what they need, but don't realise it yet."

Jack Izzard,
Founder, Gallia Communications

"What makes Alex special is how he combines top-notch technical skills with a genuine talent for communication. He has this great way of explaining complex technical stuff in plain English, which the stakeholders really appreciated."

Sir Alexander Skipwith,
Fractional CPO

"Alex is a critical asset to me — his development skills are top-notch, and his ability to handle tight deadlines while maintaining quality is remarkable. Beyond his technical proficiency, Alex is highly commercially aware, which means the solutions he delivers are not just technically sound but also align perfectly with business goals."

Neil Page,
Head of Digital, Litelok

"Alex is that rare type of person who is a full stack dev that can work well with clients, and bridge the gap between business function teams, UX and design teams and delivery, with ease, professionalism and attention to detail. If I was putting together an Avengers team for digital delivery, they'd be on it."

Martyn Kelly,
Founder, MK/A

"Alex is an exceptionally reliable developer who consistently delivers. He has excellent communication skills and can talk through trade-offs and make valuable suggestions."

Nathan Williams,
Senior Development Manager, Promo Cymru

"It was a pleasure working with Alex! He was so helpful in managing the whole process, quick to answer our questions, and great at finding solutions. I'd be happy to recommend him!"

Rhiannon Marsh,
Head of Marketing & Partnerships, blubolt

The Work

A few that I'm proud of:

WIT Training

Bespoke Shopify site selling clothes, shoes, accessories and a fitness lifestyle.

Transport for Wales

Bringing a sprawling mass of transport websites under a single domain, look and feel.

Meic.Cymru

A mobile-first WordPress rebuild of Wales' bilingual helpline for young people, for the charity Promo.Cymru.

See all case studies →

Get In Touch

Got something coming up, or a half-formed idea you want to kick around?
Drop me a line at alex@gluestudio.co.uk and I'll tell you honestly whether I'm the right person for it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some things people often ask me:

How do we get started, and what does the first conversation look like?

We start with a relaxed chat about what you're trying to achieve. No jargon, no pressure, just getting to the heart of the problem so I can tell you honestly whether I'm the right fit.

What do you need from me before you can begin?

A rough idea of your goals, any existing assets or access, and a sense of your timeline and budget. We'll shape the rest together.

Which platforms do you build on?

Mostly Shopify for ecommerce, WordPress for content-led sites, and Laravel for custom applications. If you're not sure which is right, that's exactly the kind of thing I can help you work out.

Do you work with agencies as well as direct clients?

Yes, a good chunk of my work is white-labelled through agencies who want a developer they can trust in front of their clients. I'm happy to stay behind the scenes or join calls, whatever suits.