When did you know you wanted to work with wood?
I have been woodworking since I was 11 at school, it was one of the only subjects that I really enjoyed and took to quite quickly. Later on in life I was drawn back to it as a way to escape a career that really wasn’t working. There is something so grounding about working with wood. It also gives me a deep appreciation of time. Woodcarving can be really slow, and I like that about it. The growth of trees can be exceptionally slow and I like to take the time to appreciate what each tree has given to me.
Tell us about your creative process?
I spend a lot of time sketching and researching. I use cardboard to make cut outs to work on shape and scale before I get into cutting any timber. I carve each piece by hand, leaving areas textured to show the marks of production. All the timber I use is either reclaimed, sustainably grown or responsibly sourced materials. Most of the wood I use comes from storm damaged trees from woodlands in Kent. I often use off cuts and waste materials from other woodworkers workshops, so having a strong material understanding is really important.
