"I discovered wood work at one of those pivotal times that often occur haphazardly through our lives.

 

After a decade or so of working in kitchens as a chef I found myself tired of the craft I’d earned and restless for something new.

 

A chance opportunity to work with a group of coppice workers in South Cumbria took me by the hand and led me into the world of wood.

 

I’d always been creative. From my early years studying experimental art at university, creating beautiful plates of food in restaurants, photography and videography as I travelled, and a keen musician from an early age. And so, in wood I found a new medium to channel my creativity.

 

With no formal training I began experimenting with pieces of wood, looking to create pleasing forms. I was quick to discover that it was not the ‘good’ timber I was interested in; straight pieces with their even grain were nice but they lacked the 'soul' that lives in my pieces.

 

As I spent more and more time in the woods curiously poking around I began to find what I was looking for. These half rotten trunks, storm-maimed limbs, and bulbous burls spoke to me. With each piece I found came a new conversation; one where I would ask “how can I enhance these features and draw out their beauty?” The  pieces would remain quiet, but as I began to work, chipping away material, hollowing and sanding the hidden facets would come to light. These facets become the wood’s voice; they guide my work, revealing new ways to celebrate each piece’s character. It is a wondrous collaborative experience that is captivating."