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Featured Artist

Wood Works by Thomas Jones

Thomas Jones is a carpenter and wood carver based in Kessingland in Suffolk.

Starting out as a boat builder he has also worked in the fishing industry before later studying for his degree in Conservation Management.

Developing his skills from these experiences coupled with a detailed knowledge of wood and natural materials as well as a keen interest in the natural world, he now works full time as a wood carver producing beatiful sculptural pieces as well as wildlife and specialist feature furniture.

Tom likes to use locally sourced British wood, sometimes bought in, other times picked up for instance at a local beach, perhaps from an orchard or local woodland. It is then stored and seasoned until ready to be used to create the object that the shape, colour and wood grain suggests to him.

He also creates magical effects by using reclaimed plywood as can be seen by the large scallop bowls, working up the finish until nothing less than perfect. So tactile, they need to be handled to appreciate them fully.

Tom exhibits at shows and craft fairs all over East Anglia. A few pieces are illustrated here but he also works to commission and can be contacted by email at tjones552@googlemail.com

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Don't you just love this Avocet? The dark marks are called Spalting caused by a wood fungus, much in demand by wood carvers and here Tom has cleverly used the effect to give the impression of the birds wings.

He also exploited the wood grain in the base to look like ripples in shallow water.

The legs are made up from layers of veneer off-cuts while the eyes and beak are african blackwood from a sustainable source.

The time spent on each piece, particularly the finishing, is immense but second to none in my opinion.

A recent addition to Tom's portfolio of feature furniture, this chair made from spalted sycamore was a star attraction at a recent craft fair in Aldeburgh. More a sculpture than just a chair, just stunning to touch and look at. My photograph can't possibly do it justice..