Cake base

A great looking base for a wedding cake! I turned the base for a friend (father of the bride) who did the pyrography. The mother of the bride made the cake and the chef at the wedding venue decorated it. Teamwork!

Demonstration at Burnham on Sea Woodturners Club

I was really pleased to demonstrate one of my Green Dragon bowls at Burnham on Sea Woodturners Club on Tuesday 25th April.

I would like to thank the club for inviting me and making me so welcome, they are a small, friendly club who meet once a month in the centre of Burnham on Sea. There is a detailed article of the demonstration on their website:

Green Dragon demonstration 

The article includes photos which show the texturing and colouring process.

I use a Proxxon Mini Grinder to create the texturing using attachments from the Nick Agar range. I use the fine green tungsten carbide flat carving disc for cutting the lines, the HTC backing pad with 36 and 120 grit Roloc sanding discs for shaping and the green 50 grit quick change bristle head for removing sharp edges. 

The colouring is added using black, metallic green and metallic silver acrylic paint.

The photo below shows me shaping the back of the bowl. I think I was concentrating quite hard at this point!

The second photo shows the bowl after I finished it the next day by giving it a final sand and wax polish.

Shaping the back of the bowl

Photo of the bowl after I finished it the next day

Ilminster Arts Centre Winners Exhibition

Jan 2nd to Jan 20th.

An opportunity for all the prize winners from the annual competition in August to exhibit their work.

A great exhibition, well laid out. I'd like to thank all the visitors who took the trouble to write the lovely comments in the exhibition book. Very supportive of my work!

Here are a few images from the exhibition:

Green Dragon

View of the exhibition

"Rusty", Sold

Women In Turning Exhibition

I am unbelievably proud to have had one of my pieces selected for the Turnabout: Women at the Lathe Exhibition in America. The exhibition features twenty six exhibits, a mix of invited and juried pieces. My bowl is one of eleven juried pieces selected from a total of sixty two which were submitted. There will be three exhibitions from January to the end of October.

"Green Dragon". A textured and coloured Ash bowl.

A close up of the textured and coloured rim

A compilation of all exhibits

Ilminster Arts Centre Annual Art Competition

I was really pleased to have been awarded joint 3D winner at Ilminster Arts Centre annual art competition.
This competition has a strong reputation and so there were a lot of entries of a high standard, including a good mix of 2D pictures and 3D sculpture.
I think the judges were interested in work which was slightly unusual and wasn't quite what it appeared to be. My winning piece provided an interesting narrative of organic pod and industrial "waste". A deep hollowed Ash vase was textured then finished with reactive iron paint and rust activator giving the appearance of rusty corrugated iron.
I also entered a vase which was finished with reactive bronze paint and activator, giving a tarnished appearance.
The exhibition is open until 1st September.
All prize winners and those who were highly commended will be given their own exhibition in January 2018. Dates to be announced later!
Ilminster Arts Centre website

Posed with the certificate and vase, with the winning 2D picture in the background

"Rusty iron", the winning piece. It has the appearance of rusty corrugated iron whilst actually made from Ash

In situ for all visitors to see!

"Tarnished bronze", my other entry. Also made from Ash

Some recent turnings. These are the pieces I turned for the Contemporary Craft Exhibition at Town Mill, Lyme Regis. Open every day until 11th April 2017.

Scorched Ash vase with verdigris wax highlighting the grain

Scorched Ash vase with gilt cream highlighting the grain

Scorched Ash vase with gilt cream highlighting the grain

Scorched Ash vase with verdigris wax highlighting the grain. Slightly smaller than the other vases

Scorched Ash vase with liming wax highlighting the grain

Scorched Ash vase with liming wax highlighting the grain

Scorched Ash vase with verdigris wax highlighting the grain

Oak platter with beaded and scorched rim with verdigris wax highlighting the grain

Rustic Oak platter with textured and scorched rim

Small Ash bowl, beaded and scorched

Figured Ash bowl, beaded and scorched

I was very pleased to be invited to demonstrate at Test Valley Turners earlier this week. I was made very welcome by a very friendly club. I made one of my hollowed vases out of Ash which I scorched and highlighted the grain with verdigris wax. Here are some photos from the evening:

Showing my sanding ball and how it works

Using the sanding ball to sand inside the vase

The audience watching very intently!

Scorching the hollowed and sanded vase

The finished vase with verdigris wax highlighting the grain