Put a Feather in mi Toff Hat Sculpture

Born 1955, in Batley West Yorkshire. Now live in North West Cumbria. I am totally selfe taught.I spent most of my childhood; through my teen's in to my early/mid twenties in hospital.. So I had plenty of time to draw and make plastercine model's.

I am a Woodcarver Wood Sculptor

I paint in oils, draw.. I've demonstrated my Art around national wood working shows, namely NEC Birmingham, Alexandra Palace London and the Foss Way near Lemmington Spa, as well as large shows at Shruggborough Hall, and Ragley Hall. I wrote and taught a course of Woodcarving for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People at Breakthrough in Birmingham. Before moving up to the North West Coast of Cumbria, I was the West Midlands Regional Leader of West Midlands Woodcarvers BWA (British Woodcarvers Association) In October 2006 I started the Solway Woodcarvers & Wood Sculpture Group (BWA)

MY WORK
I sculpt small and large pieces of the human and animal form in wood, I do take seriously the anatomical structure of the two forms but I do not let it rule the piece so that it becomes too clinical or farcical. My larger sculpture is Furniture in which the human and/or animal form is involved through out or part of the piece. I aim to capture movement and strength in my work without overstatement.

THE MEDIUM
I work in is wood this is because it is readily available in all sizes, I never cut down trees or use wood that has been cut down specifically for the purpose of use in my sculpture or commissioned piece of sculpture I do use secondary materials such as, glass; metal; and stone; and marble. The woods I use are Lime, Pear, Ash, and Oak, although I will use most English/West/North European woods, I also use sheet materials such as plywood, M.D.F (medium density fibre board). I like the effect of the grain, laminated plywood has when I use it on a figure it adds and defines the muscular contours of the form be it human or animal.

THE TOOLS I WORK WITH
I have my own style of working I do use power tools on some of my larger sculptures but I usually use traditional methods and tools such as chisels, gouges and mallet, this is slower than power tools but I feel it is more rewarding and self satisfying I am more involved the with piece than I would be using power tools alone.