Nicholas Rowe MSDC

Based at his studio Nicholas continues to develop his artistic woodturning practice, actively sourcing green (wet), seasoned and reclaimed wood locally. To expand the variety of shapes and sizes of his work, he has progressed his tool skills and invested in training and new equipment. He continues to refine his surface finishes that have already been highly acknowledged.

With enhanced abilities he has begun to generate work with increased aesthetic impact, while retaining the material sensitive philosophy he first conceived during his BA (Hons) 3D Design and Craft Degree. Uninterested in copying some of the contemporary trends he follows his own path. Drawing inspiration from the bark, grain, imperfections and distinctive features, he decides initially what form enables the best appreciation of the natural material’s visual and tactile qualities. Sometimes he is pleasantly surprised by externally invisible voids, cracks, Spalting lines or ripples in the grain that reveal themselves during turning, often inducing him to alter the final form respectfully.

Nicholas is continually developing the variety of skills required to overcome challenges posed by unique features that others might shy away from. Retaining the central growth rings can be highly risky as they often spilt when the wet wood is gradually air-dried; they document the life history of the tree. Additionally knots require the considered application of multiple tools to cut the torn fibres cleanly, creating interestingly distorted grain patterns.

Taking great care he sometimes purchases less evocatively charged woods from commercial sources but finds it very fulfilling working with local beautiful woods obtained first hand. He sometimes turns reclaimed or gifted exotic woods such as Jarrah fence posts and Milo table legs, which bring their own specific challenges not found in his usual wood stocks.

Finished pieces in seasoned wood can be created within days, however when turning green (wet) wood Nicholas can choose where and what features to include. He leaves the initial rough shape thicker to compensate for the natural changes over the 8 to 18 months air-drying period. To minimise cracking and failures he carefully controls this process and only when satisfied the moisture content is low enough he re-turns and finishes the piece.

Nicholas hopes to imbue additional longevity to a piece by permanently marking the name of the wood and its growing place underneath. Turning a client’s treasured wood brings additional responsibilities as the piece resonates stronger and is valued greater.

Professional Memberships

Member Society Designer Craftsman (MSDC)

Member of the Colchester Art Society (CAS)

Collective Member at The Handmade Shop & Gallery

Member of Association of Woodturners of Great Britain (AWGB)

Member of two Essex & Suffolk Woodturners Clubs affiliated/associated to the AWGB

Artist Tenant at Cuckoo Farm Studios, Colchester, Essex

Education

BA (Hons) Art and Design 3D Design & Craft Degree

(Colchester School of Art & Design/University of Essex)

Awards

Colchester Art Society Christmas Online Exhibition 2020 - My Huge Yew Tree was chosen for the Poster.

Colchester Art Society Open Summer Exhibition 2018 - Third Prize

Graduate Scholarship Award from Colchester School of Art & Design/Cuckoo Farm Studios

Commissions

Pieces created from treasured trees or designed with a specified function and/or a particular wood.

Recent undertakings can be seen on my social media Twitter account @RowzoMaker.

EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS in 2022 -

Keep an eye here as they appear... (updated 30/06/22)

• Power of the Line at the Benham Gallery, Cuckoo Farm Studios, Boxted Road, Colchester, CO4 5HH. Open Saturday 2nd – Sunday 17th July 2022, open at weekends 11am - 4pm and Wednesday evenings 4-7pm. Exhibition of work by severn CFS artists including myself. Curated by Katherine Wood (Art at Home and founding director of Firstsite, Colchester).

• Summer Online Exhibition by the Colchester Art Society. Saturday 2nd July to Sunday 13th August 2022. I will include the link when it becomes available. I have submitted a stunning Monkey Puzzle vessel, slightly Spalted, wait and see. Virtual
  

• Open Studios at Cuckoo Farm Studios, Colchester. Weekend 10th & 11th September 2022, open 11am to 6pm. In its 24th year I will once again be outside The Benham Gallery in my gazebo. A great opportunity to take in the plants and trees, 30 Artists in their studios, an Associate Exhibition in The Benham Gallery as well as outside workshops and demonstrations. Whether you are interested in talking to local artists and makers about their creative process, buy or commission work or looking for a pleasant day out we hope you will visit us. Not to be missed, refreshments available, free admission and parking, all welcome.

STOCKISTS -

The Handmade Shop and Gallery - 77a St Johns Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1SQ.

Artisan Alchemy - 84 Caroline Street, Birmingham, B3 1UP.

Direct from my Studio at Cuckoo Farm Studios - Boxted Road, Colchester, CO4 5HH. By Appointment Only.

Send an enquiry to rowzo@tiscali.co.uk and I'd be happy to discuss any queries or commissions.

PAST EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS UNDERTAKEN -

In 2022

Transformations by the Society of Designer Craftsmen at the Bankside Gallery, London Group

30@30 exhibition at The Benham Gallery at Cuckoo Farm Studios, Colchester, Essex Group

In 2021

Open Studios 'Outside' 2021 at Cuckoo Farm Studios, Colchester, Essex

Summer Online Exhibition by the Colchester Art Society Virtual

In 2020

3rd Virtual Exhibition by NewArtForYou Virtual

Christmas Online Exhibition by the Colchester Arts Society Virtual - My Tree was chosen for the poster & sold

Winter Wonders Christmas Collection at The Jessica Muir Gallery, Long Melford, Suffolk

Christmas Kaleidoscope 2020 at The Sentinel Gallery, Wivenhoe, Essex

Guest Artist for November & December 2020 at The Handmade Shop & Gallery, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

2nd Virtual Exhibition by NewArtForYou Virtual

1st Virtual Exhibition by NewArtForYou Virtual

Summer Exhibition Online by the Colchester Art Society Virtual

- Coronavirus (Covid-19) effected the UK & World mid March 2020 -

Guest Artist for March 2020 at The Handmade Shop and Gallery, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

In 2019

Winter Exhibition, by Colchester Art Society, at The Minories Gallery, Colchester, Essex

Christmas Kaleidoscope at The Sentinel Gallery, Wivenhoe, Essex

The Minories Christmas Market at The Minories Gallery, Colchester, Essex

Winter Wonders Christmas Collection at The Jessica Muir Gallery, Long Melford, Suffolk

Open Studios at Cuckoo Farm Studios, Colchester, Essex

Polstead Exhibition, Maria Martins Cottage, Polstead, Suffolk

Summer Exhibition, The Naze Tower, Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex

Summer Exhibition, by Colchester Art Society at The Minories Gallery, Colchester, Essex

Art in Wood & in Paint, The Sentinel Gallery, Wivenhoe, Essex Duo

In 2018

Winter Exhibition, by Colchester Art Society at The Minories Gallery, Colchester, Essex

The Minories Christmas Market at The Minories Gallery, Colchester, Essex

Winter Wonders Christmas Collection at The Jessica Muir Gallery, Long Melford, Suffolk

Flying The Nest Exhibition, Open Arts Space, The Sentinel Gallery, Wivenhoe, Essex

Open Studios at Cuckoo Farm Studios, Colchester, Essex

Open Summer Exhibition, by Colchester Art Society at The Minories Gallery, Colchester, Essex

In 2017

The Minories Christmas Market at The Minories Gallery, Colchester, Essex

Autumn Exhibition, The Naze Tower, Walton on the Naze, Essex

Open Studios at Cuckoo Farm Studios, Colchester, Essex

Back Catalogue Exhibition, The Benham Gallery, Cuckoo Farm Studios, Colchester, Essex

In 2016

Wood Turned Exhibition, The Minories Gallery, Colchester, Essex Solo

Open Studios at Cuckoo Farm Studios, Colchester, Essex

Outside 16 Exhibition, Cuckoo Farm Studios, Colchester, Essex

Designer Crafts at the Mall, Society of Designer Craftsmen Exhibition, The Mall Galleries, London

First Cuckoo of Spring Exhibition, The Benham Gallery, Cuckoo Farm Studios, Colchester, Essex

In 2015

Christmas Kaleidoscope, The Sentinel Gallery, Wivenhoe, Essex

New Designers, Business Design Centre, London