About Me
Hello, my name is Matt. I’ve been woodturning on a part time basis for about three years in my home of Pembrokeshire, West Wales.
My journey in woodturning started as a confluence of factors. First of all, we had thirty tonnes of ash in our small woodland felled due to ash dieback, and I wanted to give some of this exquisite wood a second, more meaningful life beyond simply providing firewood. Secondly, the start of the covid pandemic meant those of us working in tourism had a lot of extra time on our hands. With that, I learnt woodturning entirely from YouTube on my dad’s small lathe that hadn’t seen any use in the thick end of ten years.
A few hundred hours of replayed videos, numerous disintegrated bowls, a new lathe and some shiny new tools later, I’m focused on creating a range of pieces designed to be cherished for a lifetime. Everything from bowls, tumblers and plates meant for daily use, to hollowforms and creative objects that encapsulate and preserve the natural phenomena of wood.
When it comes to the foundation of my craft, wherever possible I will use either homegrown trees from our own woodland, reclaimed or recycled timber, or locally grown wood from around Pembrokeshire. Given the state of the natural world as it stands, and as someone who has been brought up amongst such natural marvels as oak, ash, sycamore and countless others, I feel a responsibility to share with people the struggles and stories of our precious trees. Using wood that is locally grown, underplanting with new saplings and attentively managing our woods, means that we can give back whilst not taking more than is needed. I aim to share this symbiotic connection to the natural world with others, and introduce people to the warmth and joy of wood.
In addition to using locally sourced wood, I strive to use natural wood finishes too. For things designed for regular wear and tear, I tend to use linseed oil and beeswax or tung oil. For tumblers or things that need a harder wearing finish, I’ll use Osmo hard wax oil. This is a combination of natural oils and waxes that forms a thicker, yet very robust food (and alcohol) safe finish on the wood. If you’d like to know more about how I finish my wood or have any questions regarding the nature of wood finishing, please get in touch. I’d love to hear from you.
I broadly work on a commission basis, and I love to collaborate with people to design and create unique gifts, wedding presents, mementos or even something bespoke and unique to eat or drink from. As such, feel free to use my website as a springboard from which to find inspiration, examples of particular styles, and species of wood and the numerous forms they take. As I create more things, so there will be semi-regular updates to this site. If you haven’t found what you’re looking for just yet, it may just be coming around the corner.
In purchasing a unique piece of a Pembrokeshire, I aim to ensure that you can get a lifetime of joy and use from it too. As such, I offer ongoing care advice and refinishing services for everything I make. Whether you need advice on which oil is best to finish your plate with yourself, or you’d like a set of tumblers refinished, no issue or question is too small. I’ve got you covered. My aim is to ensure that looking after your wonderful wood wares through the years is easy as possible.
Beyond my woodturning and exploration of the craft, I can mostly be found building yurts, cutting grass and growing chillies at Trellyn Woodland Camping, just here! If you’re in the area, do pop in and see me in the workshop. I’m always up for a chat, and would love nothing more than to help you create something special for you or a loved one.