I am a designer/maker and greenwood worker based in North Essex. After years of exploring sustainable design processes and materials I discovered working in greenwood. Although I still work with a range of materials and techniques, working with this beautiful sustainable material has become my passion.
I am continuously fascinated by the way people use objects and how they customise them to make them their own . I draw upon a wide selection of materials including natural green wood, man made materials and some salvaged and/or reclaimed.I also use a wide variety of skills including traditional woodworking with hand tools, rope and rigging techniques and modern CNC (computer numeric controlled) and RP (Rapid prototyping) methods of manufacture. I have a wide experience of the world, RAF fitter, barman, animation technician, operating theatre cleaner, mystery caller, gardener, graphic designer. All of which have played a strange and varied part in making me the designer I am today.
I graduated in product design as a mature student from the Glasgow School of Art. Being passionate about design and all that is associated with it I welcome any feedback, communication and /or collaboration especially with dissimilar materials or techniques. If you would like to comment about my work, good or bad, or communicate with me about a technique or project, please use the form on the contact page.
What is and why green wood?
Sadly we import a huge amount of wood from abroad, ignoring or forgetting the beautiful resources we have on our door step. Working in greenwood means working with the wood when it is freshly felled, when the wood is still wet. This ancient process allows is to create beautiful products that have a sustainable heritage. All my products are made from wood that is normally seen as waste, smaller pieces that have no commercial value . The greenwood is locally sourced in Essex and Suffolk, working with tree surgeons and foresters. For most I can tell you where the tree came from.
Green woodworking is extremely tactile and this sense of touch continuously feeds back into my work through my tools.
Bespoke work:
If you have a tree on your property that is needing to be removed or reduced why not think of commissioning me to make some treen for you. Some people use this wood to make furniture, but this can be very expensive and take many years. I can make treen like shrink-pots, spoons or even a Memento (see shop). This is a much cheaper way of preserving some of that much-loved tree full of memories.
If I can help or if you would like to discuss possibilities just send me an email at david@stovelldesign.co.uk
Why not try one of our experience days!
Greenwood experience days are based in my outdoor workshop in Halstead, North Essex. I will introduce you to the basics of green woodworking, from processing a log with froe and axe to the use of the shave-horse, knives and other traditional hand tools and techniques. After mastering these techniques, we will make an item of treen, for you to use at home, and have a go at turning on the pole-lathe (a traditional foot powered reciprocating lathe).
We will cover safety and good technique, tool selection, wood species and culture, we will also look at those who are great examples of green woodworkers.
