I have always loved wood and started experimenting with a lathe with no particular feel for where I was headed. As my knowledge of different woods and their qualities and idiosyncrasies increased I began to find inspiration from my surroundings and tuned these ideas to fit with the wood that I was using.
I use a lathe as a starting point for most of my work but look at it as merely a tool; much as a carver would regard his chisels or a painter, his brushes.
I believe that a wooden sculpture should be touched, preferably picked up and felt. The texture and weight of the wood is an integral part of the piece. The obsession with producing thin walled forms is, in my opinion, tragic.
A large urn or bowl that weighs just a few ounces lacks the fundamental qualities of the material that it is made from.
I work both seasoned and green wood but I particularly love green – the distortions, cracks and textures allow the piece to create its own character merely guided by the artist.
My belief is that whatever you do to the wood it should be left with its integrity and identity – if not then you may as well use a sterile man-made material.
Living and working in the Scottish Highlands is conducive to creativity and I find myself drawing either directly from my surroundings or from the thoughts that are allowed to evolve from a stress free environment.
I cannot overstate the importance of the feedback that I receive from my wife and children and indeed some pieces, I would have to attribute wholly to them.
