Hollow Form Work » Professional Demonstrators

Greg uses recycled wood from a local recycling social enterprise and collects wood from tree surgeons.  Greg produces fine lace oak vases, bowls, tea and coffee services and lights from the oak wood he collects. Greg sandblasts the finely turned items to explore the natural qualities of the wood and exposing its history. Using recycled wood, typically from furniture, Greg produces large offset vases.

Greg worked as a Geography Teacher at a large Comprehensive School in Cumbria for the last 16 Years. He took up woodturning as a hobby in 2016 as a way of helping him relax. The hobby rapidly became an obsession and has now turned into a fulltime career.

Greg is a self-taught woodturner.  In 2023 He was invited to be part of the Crafts Council’s Collect Open exhibition where he was awarded the Director’s Choice award. Greg was also selected to exhibit at the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition and the Worshipful Company of Turners Masters invitation event. He was a finalist in the 2023 Wood Awards. 

The oak wood Greg collects is ‘turned green’, to a thickness of 2mm and allowed to dry. When dry the wood is sandblasted. This has the effect of removing the soft spring growth leaving a lace like effect. This can only be done with oak, which has medullary rays which go across the growth rings. This involves combining both wood turning and sculpting. What is produced, in Greg’s view, is fine art created by nature, and revealed by a craftsman.

Greg sells his work at Craft Fairs and exhibitions throughout the country. He also has work at the Flow Gallery in London and the Damsel gallery in Dorset. Ho work can also be purchased via his website.

Michael, a born and bred Orcadian, who has been practicing the craft of wood turning for over 28 years, is self-taught. Michael has honed his skills using a combination of practice, experimentation and his desire to produce fine attractive pieces. He was accepted onto the Register of Professional Turners in 2017. Influence and inspiration is drawn from the works of Neolithic inhabitants of ancient Orkney. During the long bright summer days, the light on the landscapes inspires new designs, while the long dark nights of winter is the time when he is most productive in his workshop. Wood is obtained from sustainable sources and is processed on site with our own sawmill, from log to finished piece. The traditions and culture of the islands are an important part of Michael’s life and his work reflects his affinity with Orkney and its heritage of craftsmanship. All this results in Michael creating unique wooden decorative pieces suitable for home decor , bespoke gifts or to enhance any public spaces. Our wood turning business is run from our home where we have a small gallery and visitors are also welcome to see the workshop.