About Me

I left school at 15 years of age and served a five year apprenticeship in Carpentry and Joinery gaining City and Guilds and Advanced City and Guilds qualifications. I also secured a diploma for the Incorporated British institute of Certified Carpenters (IBICC). I later followed this up by winning the HC DAVIES memorial award for carpenters. An award given to up and coming apprentices in the trade. 

I later completed two individual woodturning courses with professional woodturners JASON BREACH and LES THORNE as woodturning was the only part of my trade not covered by a formal qualification of any description. (Jason Breach and Les Thorne's websites can be accessed via the associated link on the left.

I am the training officer for the AWGB (Association of woodturners of Great Britain) where i organise training workshops with professional woodturners for AWGB members. These workshops enable candidates to increase their skills in woodturning. 

I tutor for the AWGB the professional demonstrator courses. This course equips candidates with the necessary skills to demonstrate woodturning at woodworking events. It doesn't teach them how to turn but how to communicate whilst giving a woodturning demonstration. I also Tutor the Woodturning Instructors course, this equips the accomplished turner with the necessary skills to  teach people how to turn and at the same time ensure that would be Instructors deliver instruction to a desired level. 

The AWGB web site can also be accessed via the associated link on the left. I am the vice chair of the Axminster wood turner's club. We meet the first Saturday of each month at Woodbury village hall, Axminster, Devon EX13 5TL. Meetings vary, we have professional demonstrators meetings, in house competitions, show and tell tables (you produce a turning, bring it to the meeting, explain the type of wood and how you turned it) plus experienced turners can pass on their knowledge to the less experienced members. Annual membership is £30 a year for adults and £14 for juniors (this includes membership to the AWGB).

I am also a member of the International Association of pen turners (IAP).

I tend to turn one off pieces and try to incorporate carving, decorative work and numerous other techniques into the pieces that i turn (not all in the one project piece I might add).

I get inspiration from books, other turners, objects and patterns around me, nature and the timber itself trying to use the grain and growth ring patterns as a starting point for any decoration.