About

I trained as a teacher of art and literature. (One of my degrees is in Literature and the combined arts). I taught these, literacy, numeracy and IT for a number of years with children and adults.

In reality I am self taught in everything I do as when attending classes I rarely pay attention. Dyslexia prevents me from both listning and watching or writing simultaneously.

I worked for some 6 years designing and making furniture with English hardwoods. To do so I taught myself skills as I required them. Being of an impatient nature I did not deem it necessary to learn hand dovetail joint cutting.

I learned thrown pottery from a friend who was a commercial potter but again I am too impatient to do anything repetitive for long.

As a woodturner I work as craftsmen used to do, entirely from eye (just making sure that the joints are in the right place etc) so that each leg or strut is actually a little different from the others.

If you are looking for antiques rather than replicas this is worth bearing in mind.