Having retired from the army in 2017 after 33 years in the Royal Artillery, I was able to return to a hobby I first started at school but had never had the time to pursue properly. I was hugely fortunate to train under the eye of one of the finest turners in the country, Stuart Mortimer, whose support and encouragement steered me to become a full-time turner in 2018.
I turned professional in 2019 with the launch of Butterwood and was accepted onto the Register of Professional Turners (RPT) in September of the same year.
I joined the committee of the RPT in 2021 and became a freeman of the Worshipful Company of Turners in 2022. I am a regular at Salisbury Arts Scene events and exhibit locally and on the various Art Trails and Open Studios.
With a passion for all wood, I initially tried to specialise in segmented designs that make the most of the huge variety of colour and grain found in both domestic and exotic hardwoods. However, there are so many aspects to wood turning that I wish to try, I find I spend a lot of time experimenting with different techniques in an effort to expand my knowledge.
The highlight of my new career, so far, was a commission from the Worshipful Company of Turners to make a piece celebrating the Queens Platinum Jubilee for the Lord Mayor of Londons Lunch in 2022.
As well as undertaking commissions, I run courses and taster sessions from my workshop near Enford in the Avon Valley and derive huge satisfaction from passing on my love of the craft to others.
After over 30 years spent blowing stuff up, becoming a creative is still a novel concept for me and every day feels like a weekend.
