Carving birds is my passion, the more lifelike the better. Over the years I have tried to carve all the species that people have requested; each new species is a major challenge for each has different shapes and textures, not to mention colours. Posing the bird requires a good deal of research, as does getting the feather count and placement right.
I work alone in my workshop, which I have equipped over the years with a carving area and a texturing/painting area. (Seen on the About page) I process my own timber using a planer/thicknesser, bandsaw, circular saw, mill and pillar drill.
My birds are carved from Jelutong, Lime, Tupelo and Sugar Pine. The last two species are very difficult to obtain in the U.K. As all my carvings are textured and painted I do not use woods with beautiful grain, such as Walnut, Mahogany or Oak, why cover such beautiful woods with paint? My preferred wood is English Lime, especially for my smaller carvings, for it takes detail supremely well and retains it’s strength in very thin sections. It’s greatest drawback is the time taken to season it properly; being one year per inch of thickness.
