About
From the workshop in North Norfolk, I design and make handcrafted wooden objects from locally grown trees using a variety of traditional tools and techniques. Ever seeking an elusive harmony between material, process and form, I believe that simple handcrafted objects have a unique ability to enrich and inspire, and to connect people, places and materials.
I graduated from Norwich Art School in 2003 with a BA hons in fine art sculpture and have subsequently worked on a variety of projects, all within the orbit of traditional woodworking. For many years, much of my work was centred around the design construction and repair of wooden structures and buildings, and to a lesser extent, joinery, furniture making and sculpture.
In tandem with recently setting up a new workshop, and a desire to work on a smaller scale the focus of my practice has moved towards the design and making of functional woodenware. Simple and beautiful handcrafted wooden objects designed and made for use in the home.
I am very fortunate to work from a beautiful historic building which originally served as a carpenter’s workshop on a small rural North Norfolk Estate. Through working from the Estate and having established connections with other local woodland owners over the years, I am uniquely able to source and process all of the material for my work. I am usually involved in felling extracting and converting the timber myself; such a holistic approach gives a deeply meaningful connection to where I live and the material I work with.
Inspired by craft traditions and wood cultures from around the world, my work champions the use of locally grown timber and seeks to give pleasure and meaning through a direct connection with the natural world and the hand of the maker.
Product Care
Woodenware is made to be used. Properly cared for it will develop a beautiful natural patina over time and should give many years of service. Items should be hand washed in warm soapy water and left to dry over draining board. Woodenware should not be left to soak and should not go in the dishwasher!
Many of the pieces I make are finished with food grade oils/waxes which harden and cure to seal and protect the wood. To revive and freshen up the wood an occasional wipe of any suitable food safe oil can be applied. Wood is fickle by nature, and is very susceptible to moisture changes within the environment. Ideally woodenware should be used regularly and extreme environmental moisture variations should be avoided.
Urushi Lacquer
The use of urushi lacquer has a history reaching back over eight thousand years in Asia. It is a remarkable natural finish that is extremely hard wearing and offers an almost infinitive variety of possibilities, in terms of the kinds of decorative finish that can be achieved. Cured urushi can withstand temperatures of over 300 degrees Celcius. It is resistant to alkali, acids, and alcohol. It is also resistant to mould and mildew growth. Long term exposure to strong UV light can cause a degradation of lacquered surfaces and the lustre of the finish. It is advisable to keep lacquerware away from strong sunlight for long periods.
Urushi comes from the sap of the lacquer tree (toxicodendron vernicifluum), which is in the same family as poison oak and Ivy. The sap contains a compound (urushiol) which polymerizes to form a hard surface when exposed to high humidity and warmth. The one caveat with this remarkable natural finish is that contact with the uncured urushi can cause urushiol induced contact dermatitis. Once cured in a carefully controlled environment, the lacquer becomes inert. In very rare cases with people who are particularly sensitive to urushiol, a mild rash can develop from this finish.
As with other woodenware, lacquerware can be washed in warm soapy water with a soft sponge or cloth and should not be left to soak for long periods. Boiling water should not be poured directly in to lacquerware. Strong direct sunlight should also be avoided. It should also be noted that metal utensils will scratch the lacquered surface.