I retired from my job as an operations manager with Parcelforce in 1998, and didn't like the idea of just sitting around, so was looking for a hobby to occupy my time, having almost completed an apprenticeship as a Joiner and cabinet maker in my younger days, and having kept my woodworking skills going over the years, my thought turned to a hobby involving wood, I finally decided on Woodturning, my wife purchased my first lathe for me and we were ready to go.

However, it was to be almost the end of 1999, before I could get going, a triple heart by-pass intervened, but a quick  recovery from  this meant that I was finally able to get started in earnest, and I joined a club called The Village Turners based in Peterborough.

I have now been woodturning for just over 8 years, with the help of some excellent club members and the many professional demonstrators who have visited the club, I have managed to achieve a reasonable standard, but still have a lot to learn, indeed one never stops learning.

Our club has been involved with several organisations in Peterborough, in particular Peterborough College of Adult Education and Perkins Engines, for whom we have run demonstrations and taster sessions to encourage others to take up woodturning.

Although I woodturn as a hobby, there comes a time when must find an outlet for the collection of turned  Bowls, Platters, Clocks, Mushrooms, Pens and many other objects that seem to take over ever nook and cranny in the home, one can only give so much away to family and friends, before they  too have space problems !!

 

Eventually I decided that Craft Fairs would probably be a good idea, and became involved in just a few,  I  don't attend these in order to make a huge profit, I'm happy just as long as I make sufficient to cover the cost of  the item,  which in turn allows me to replace the wood and continue my hobby.

 

I get great satisfaction from chatting to members of the public about woodturning and feel a sense of pride when someone likes and item enough to purchase it.  So many people appreciate the beauty of wood and products made from it that thought I should be promoting it more, showing people what we woodturners do, explaining what is involved and how they can get involved if they wish,  that I decided to do something about, and now you know the reason for the birth of  "Artisan Woodturning"

 

I would now like to become a little more involved in the Craft Fair side of things, especially locally based ones, I hope that when you have looked at the items in the gallery, you will maybe like what you see and feel like contacting me for any future events you have planned. I can be contacted by e-mail or telephone