So you have to be mad to try to make a living at this.....

Mad but in the flow, at peace, often excited, happy....

I find there is something deeply nourishing and meditative about working with wood, and with exploring the finished piece with your sense of touch, smell and sight.
I got hooked on wood in 1993 as a volunteer on a community woodcarving project, and found the thing that I always wanted to do - but didn't realise until this opportunity arrived to discover it. Since then I have continued my 'apprenticeship' which i hope will never end - there is always something to discover and learn.
Designing and creating a piece for a specific place, person or situation never ceases to be exciting and fulfilling, and triggers the 'creative flow'.
Working with a group of novice carvers (often complete beginners) on community pieces is also a unique and energising dynamic, often leading with me learning much from them... and it is a huge privilege to be able to help their confidence and skills grow.
I like to weave stories into each piece through using figurative imagery that people can readily relate to. They can then decide for themselves what that story may be.

After 4 years of fully being employed in carving through projects, commissions and my own pieces,in 2007 I left England to come and emigrate to New Zealand, a move which has brought me to a sense of being 'Home', even though I needed to build my creative practice  up from scratch, in between earning a living in other ways. Since 2017 I am now back to creating full time, and looking forward to new commissions, projects and pieces that are still waiting to manifest.....