JP Woodwork

JP Woodwork

I am a self-taught wood turner designing and creating pieces by blending my knowledge of the formal discipline of engineering and the craft of wood turning. I am a chartered mechanical engineer, but have always had a passion for working more artistically with wood. I was introduced to woodturning in mid 1990s by my father who was recovering from illness and had decided to try his hand at the craft as a form of therapy. Through the early somewhat experimental days helping my Dad, I realised that wood turning offered a unique way to express myself outside of the relatively straight lines generally associated with convention cabinetwork. I work mainly with native English timbers and prefers wood with lighter subtle grain, such as Sycamore or Beech, which allows the form of my pieces to be clearly seen. I also work occasionally with exotics from sustainable sources when a more striking grain or contrast of colour is required. I have recently started to experiment with spirit stains which sink into the wood and allow me to add bright colours to my pieces without obscuring the grain. Most of my work is sold through local galleries, but I am also available for commissions.