The Wooden Potter

I first started out with traditional Polynesian carving and I am self taught. Intrigued by the form, symbolism and the story behind each piece, for each piece has a meaning and place in Polynesian folklore. This taught me discipline and design. As traditional as it is, the artist does have some licence to move.

The lure of travel led me overseas for what was to be a couple of years.  Eleven years went by along with some 70 odd countries. All of this at times interrupted the creative side of things I still managed to keep the creative side alive and well, in London jewellery making rings bracelets selling along Hyde park, later leather work in South Africa, as much of this time was spent in Africa. Also the Indian sub-continent and the many of the Pacific islands in Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia an area rich in craft and culture that has added much to what I do today.

Today both aspects of each piece draw on the natural world. I find that much of what surrounds me in nature gives me inspiration and all this inspiration is coloured by the many cultures I visited. We now live on the outskirts of Australia’s biggest city which give us easy access to both seascapes and the forested areas along with long summers, the best of both worlds.

Many years later I delved into jewellery while living in London; this taught me the importance of detail and finish.  Later I discovered the wood lathe and slowly brought the two aspects together. It was a difficult marriage at first of two strangers coming together both vying for centre stage as I tried to bring to life what was in the mind’s eye.

Awards and Achievements

  • 2015 AWTEX Wood Art – Novice: first place 
  • 2017 AWTEX Wood Art – Intermediate: first place
  • 2018 AWTEX Wood Art – Open: first place
  • Numerous online awards:
    • World of Wood.com, Woodturners Unlimited.com, AWGB.co.uk, American Association of Woodturners – these are online awards for Hollow Vessels, and wood turned art pieces
    • Published profile in Creative Wood – a National Association of Woodworkers of New Zealand, 2019
  • Currently exhibiting at the Bungendore Wood Works Gallery, and Wood Symphony (an online gallery out of Los Angles), and in the past at the Craft NSW Gallery when it was in the Rocks (Sydney)

Facebook: The Wooden Potter

Instagram: thewoodenpotter