My first exhibition was by serendipity, as a teenager when my school displayed a carving without my knowledge. Twelve years later, I took lessons, bought tools and persecuted my London flatmates with incessant tapping into pieces of elm in our cellar.
The vast array of hardwoods has been the backdrop to my Australian endeavours. While I exhibited and sold work during my 30’s, retirement to the natural beauty of Narooma after a design and construction career has allowed me to rekindle my passion for carving.
I have scarcely touched my thirty five year old collection of timber as I am totally distracted by the many inspiring pieces of driftwood I encounter on daily walks.
The timber usually suggests to me what the end product will be. I prefer to start with an interesting shapely piece and follow the direction it leads me. The scarce Huon Pine had been a favourite to work with but I now find the variety within our local spotted gum reveals both textural and visual interest while responding well to my tools.
Bachelor of Science (Architecture) and Bachelor of Architecture – Welsh School of Architecture, University of Wales, United Kingdom; Associate Diploma – Visual Arts – Furniture Making and Design – Canberra School of Art, Canberra ACT, Australia; Exhibits and Publications – NSW, ACT and VIC
