Woodwork Portfolio

Oak mantle piece.

I was asked to design and build this piece to fit with an existing fireplace in the Blackrock guest house, Corrie.
Built all in local oak, the legs are both from one branch which was cut in half to form the circle shape around the stone hearth. I left the top flat for ornaments and used an oil finish for the lustre, all the other surfaces are shaped, sculpted and textured.

Mantle piece detail.

Dragon.

Hand carved and standing about 6 inch tall this was a piece carved in 1998 as one of my first sculptures. Carved from local Lime, burnished and oiled for effect.

Bagpipe box.

Commisioned by Robert Carlyle this box is made from local Arran oak, hand cut dovetails and a pannelled lid ar traditional details and give a very solid finish. The inside is lined with brushed fabric to keep the bagpipes safe. Oiled and polished.

Bagpipe box detail.

Showing handles and dovetails. The oiled finish gives a great luster sheen that is very durable.

Bowl.

Turned in sycamore and then shaped to give the four leaves around the outside.

Turned box.

Made from oak, sycamore and ash. A one off design about 1 foot high.

Turned box with the lid removed.

Turned vases in various woods.

The two larger fluted vases are made up of multiple woods with sycamore and fumed oak giving the colours. The tallest vase is about 18 inch high, the smallest only 2.

Turned standard lamp.

This was commissioned by a showroom in London. It stands over 6 feet tall and is made of many sections of wood. Built form local sycamore and oak it was fumed to make the oak go dark to give a chequered finish.

Wall cabinet.

This is a one off piece made from elm, oak, lime, pine and teak. The panel on the front is elm and has been shaped and polished to give the rippled finish. This cabinet is about 3 feet tall and has shelves inside.

Wall cabinet detail with brass shaker handle.

Carved picture.

This piece is carved from laminated timber with a woven background. It is about 3 foot by 2 foot.

Coffe table.

Made with ash and oak this is a simple elegant design of my own.

Oak coffe table.

Traditional construction and built to last this piece was commissioned by a client as a table for a living room.

Ash side table.

Carved ash top with a celtic moiif and a turned leg, designed as a side table.

Carved side table.

Ash top and feet with a sycamore leg and yew inserts in the carving.

Carved side table with dog design.

Completely made from local ash with a dog motif hand carved in the top.

Freeform table.

This was a piece for my high school 6th year art project. It has a marquetry picture inlaid into the top with a stag image of my own design. The knotwork is hand carved.

Pair of side tables.

Made from ash these were commissioned as bedside tables.

Fret inlay design.

This was an interesting project to add a design to the front of a spanish guitar. I inlaid the leaf and stem design with the leaves positioned to mark the fret numbers. The design runs into the head of the guitar as a carved detail with a rose head at the end.

Many hands make light work.

A team of people working on the handcut mortice and tenons of a post and beam frame barn.

Barn building team.

Post and beam construction workshop almost complete.
This is a fantastic method of building that requires a totally different approach from normal building. I have used this method for everything from sign boards in the castle gardens to complete gable ends of houses with glass fronts.

Post and beam frame shed.

Detail of the corner built up with large braces and the oak pegs that hold it all together sticking out.

Completed shed.

With roof and cladding on. Built to last a hundred years and more.

Handbuilt stair in Wales.

I was asked to build this stair for a friend in north Wales, I have no photos of the room finished but these show the design well enough. Built from yew and ash with a mixture of modern construction and traditional methods.

Detail of stair.

Showing first two steps designed to allow an easy approach and organic feel.

Stair detail.

Seen from above with curved handrail.

Satir detail.

Showing natural edged timber and branch cut handrail spindles.

Bathroom sink and cupboard.

Sash windows.

Built in the traditional manner for conservation areas these are ready for fitting.

Mantle piece.

Traditional mantle design built for a renovation project in Lochranza.

Oak gate.

Built for a garden in Sannox this was to fit into a dear proof fence.