new work

National Eisteddfod Llanrwst 2019

July 20, 2019UncategorizedChloe Needham, exhibitions, National Eisteddfod, new work, purchasehibbertlou

The National Eisteddfod of Wales will soon begin in Llanrwst, North Wales on the 2nd August 2019.
I have been having fun collaborating with paper artist Chloe Augusta Needham on some new Moth lamps and we were thrilled that these were selected to be exhibited at the Y Lle Celf – the Eisteddfod’s visual arts gallery.
It’s a great place to exhibit as it attracts 40,000 visitors during the course of the week!

Below are some work in progress photos of the new lamps – Moth II and Moth III that we have been working on that you will be able to see on show.

You can find out more information at https://eisteddfod.wales/yllecelf

New Collaboration

September 17, 2016UncategorizedChloe Needham, collaboration, London, new workhibbertlou

In the last few months I have been working on an exciting new collaboration with Chloe Needham, a paper artist also living in North Wales.

It has been really interesting working with someone who’s medium is completely different to mine and one I haven’t had any experience of before (except being slightly obsessed with cutting things up with scissors when I was at school!).

After some discussions together at Chloe’s house in Llanrwst we eventually decided on a design for a sculptural moth light. With me making the body and Chloe the delicate coloured wings, the moth would rest on a bare bulb hanging on a wall.

We were then very fortunate to be able to visit Rhyd-y-Creuau – the Field Studies Centre in North Wales (and where my partner Mark works) – where we were able to look at the moths caught the night before by Alice, and their collection of moths and butterflies. It was great to be able to see them in 3D, see how they moved and flew and look closely at the fine details.

Looking at the moth trap at Rhyd-y-Creuau

Chloe and Alice

Chloe and me

We are close to finishing the piece and hope to have it ready in time for me to show it at Wizardry in Wood in London this October (www.wizardryinwood.com)

carving the body out of ash

moth body with scale drawing

copper antennae and blackwood eyes

trying out wing designs

working out the legs

legs in copper

Wizardry in Wood Oct 2016

September 8, 2016Uncategorizedexhibitions, London, new work, purchase, Wizardry in Woodhibbertlou

I will be exhibiting in London from the 12th-15th Oct 2016 at Wizardry in Wood – organised by the Worshipful Company of Turners, and only held every 4 years. You can find out more and buy tickets at https://wizardryinwood.com/

One of the oldest Livery Companies in the City of London, the Turners’ Company was already a guild in the 12th Century. Some 200 years later, Edward III decreed that ‘wooden measures, as well for wine as for ale’ should be made only by ‘turnours’ with marks of their own – and the medieval turners established the English ‘pint’ as an official measure. In 1604 the Company received its Royal Charter from James I.

This year their one of competitions is commemorating the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London and I have made a special piece inspired by the start of the fire at the bakery at Pudding Lane which will be exhibited at the show.

Beautiful and amazing original works by over 70 of the world’s greatest contemporary woodturners

Meet the craftsmen – learn more about their Art and Craft
Admire the Beauty of works from one of the world’s largest private collections
Marvel at the Mystery of exhibits from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Enjoy live demonstrations of the craft
Take part in a short guided tour of the exhibition
Collect, Give, Buy – many items will be for sale
Be your own judge of the entries to the Turners’ Company 2016 Competitions
Delve into the displays of works by members of the Association of Wood Turners of Great Britain – Society of Ornamental Turners – Association of Polelathe Turners – Register of Professional Turners

Where, When, How?

Where: In the spectacular and spacious Carpenters’ Hall in the heart of the City of London.

When: Wed 12 – Sat 15 October: opens 10am each day. On Wed 12, Thur 13 & Fri 14 October: closes 6pm, last entry 5pm. On Sat 15 October: closes 4pm, last entry 3pm

Go to http://www.wizardryinwood.com to buy tickets

New Beetles for Ruthin

October 5, 2014Uncategorizedbeetles, boxes, new work, purchase, Ruthin Craft Centrehibbertlou

In July this year I started designing some new coleoptera inspired boxes for my show coming up at Ruthin Craft Centre – a beautiful gallery in North Wales. The show is called ‘Is it Wood’ and is curated by Mary La Trobe Bateman OBE (who used to be the director of Contemporary Applied Arts). Other artists include:

Peter Archer / Fred Baier / Dail Behennah / Roger Bennett / Chatwin : Martin / Eleanor Glover / Nicola Henshaw / Eleanor Lakelin / Lina Peterson / Anthony Roussel / Sophie Smallhorn / Wycliffe Stutchbury / Rupert Williamson

Bringing together 14 unique makers, who through their innovative and original ideas, challenge our traditional perceptions of wood.

I hope this colourful exhibition challenges traditional ideas about working with wood.
I hope it causes some surprises.
I hope it counters the response to so much work that is handmade in wood by inviting the visitor to look beyond the surface and the skill of the making to see the original ideas and innovations of each individual artist.
And I hope that the exhibition is enjoyable!

Mary La Trobe-Bateman, Curator.

You can find out more about the show at Ruthin Craft Centre It runs until Nov 30th 2014.

: Rosalia Box

: Rosalia Box

: Rosalia Box

: Polyphylla Box

: Polyphylla

: Polyphylla Box

: Macrodontia Box II

: Macrodontia II Box open

: Macrodontia Box II

: Hercules Box

: Hercules Box

: Hercules Box

: Helea Box II

: Helea Box II open

New furniture with Cillian O’Suilleabhain

September 26, 2013Uncategorizedfurniture, London, new workhibbertlou

Mock up for large cabinet

My latest project is a collaboration with Irish furniture maker Cillian O’Suilleabhain. We met in June during the Irish wall project, got on really well and decided it would be an exciting new venture to work together on some furniture pieces. The challenge was how to combine my finely detailed, organic work with the minimal geometric aesthetic of his furniture.

It’s taken a lot of experimentation, tests, and discussion but we are very happy with the results so far and are looking forward to showing them at the two London shows coming up soon.