From the Shoreline to Your Home
It never stops amazing me—the sheer variety of driftwood that washes up on our beaches. Each tide brings something new, shaped by wind, waves, and time. Some of the pieces I collect have travelled thousands of miles, drifting from as far away as South America and the Caribbean before finally coming to rest on our shores.
Over the past decade, interest in driftwood art and furniture has grown rapidly. What began centuries ago in the Far East and India has evolved into a global appreciation for natural, weather worn materials and the stories they carry. My work continues that tradition, transforming reclaimed driftwood into unique, handcrafted furnishings for the home.
In recent years I’ve developed my creativity still further by investing in new lathes and steadily developing my bowl and spindle turning skills, exploring the endless possibilities of shaping raw timber into something beautiful and lasting.
Six years ago, my wife and I moved to a bungalow in Aberystwyth on the stunning coast of mid-west Wales. The move changed everything. Living beside the sea inspired me to channel my woodworking into something more meaningful - creating furniture and art furnishings from driftwood washed ashore by the tides.
How We Collect Our Driftwood
Our approach to collecting driftwood is simple and rooted in daily life. Jill and I enjoy spending time on the beach, where we gather small pieces of driftwood and collect any plastics, cans or rubbish we find. Keeping the coastline clean is as important to us as finding the perfect piece of wood. On many days, my wife joins us for a walk with the dogs.
After a big storm, though, things get more serious. Jill and I head straight to the shoreline in my restored 1973 Ford F 100 truck, Henry. Storms often uncover incredible pieces, and together we load the truck before bringing everything back to my workshop.
For us, collecting is not just about sourcing artistic materials; it is a way of giving back. Every trip helps keep our beaches cleaner and safer for increasingly fragile marine life and bird habitats. Sustainability is not a marketing strapline for us; it is part of our lifestyle.
From Beach to Workshop
Once home, the driftwood is laid out across the workshop floor to dry naturally. Some pieces take weeks before they’re ready to work with. When the drying process is complete, I sort everything by size, shape, and character, stacking it carefully in my wood store.
Every piece has its own story, and I make sure that story is preserved. I note the name of the storm that brought the wood in, and I use What3Words to record the exact spot where it was found. When I create a piece—like a driftwood mirror—I write the What3Words location on the back so the new owner can see precisely where their driftwood began its journey.
My personal favourites are the driftwood mirrors. Over the years, I’ve developed several unique techniques for cutting, shaping, and attaching each piece, ensuring every mirror becomes a striking, sculptural centrepiece. I always aim to upcycle reclaimed materials wherever possible including the wood, fixings, mirror glass and frames because every element with a past contributes to the next chapter, so adding to the provenance of each finished piece.
Craftsmanship With Character
Each piece we create together is completely individual—one of a kind, shaped by nature and finished by hand. In my driftwood work, I use traditional woodworking techniques wherever possible, blending them with newer carving tools and methods. Learning these techniques has opened up exciting possibilities, helping me bring out even more of the natural beauty hidden within each piece of wood.
No two creations are ever the same. Each carries the marks of its journey: the tides that shaped it, the storm that delivered it, and the craftsmanship that transformed it.
Our roots
Jill and I grew up in Stourbridge, and we are proud of our Black Country roots. In our late teens, we both moved to Worcester, where we went on to build successful lives and families. We have always been close, hardworking and honest, and we have always looked after one another.
Meet Jill
Jill has been happily married to Tony for 40 years. Together they have three children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. For many years Jill ran a successful contract cleaning business; after retiring, she was able to give more of her time to her art. Her specialities include painting and stained-glass sculpture. A picture and art collection featuring her work is planned for the future.
Creating together
Jill and I collaborate on some of my driftwood projects, bringing her stained glass together with the wood I work with. It is a natural meeting of our different skills: we challenge one another, blend our styles and enjoy making something that feels bigger than either of us could create alone. We can sometimes be very forthright with each other, but that openness gives us an honest view of our work and helps us bring out the best in one another.
Jill says: “Art is my grounding force; I’ve always turned to canvas to clear my mind, find focus and simply breathe.”
What has long been a personal, therapeutic practice for Jill has taken on new meaning in our collaborations. There is a calming, mindful rhythm to the work: the quiet focus of creating individually, joined by the intuitive, joyful connection of making something together as brother and sister.
From the Shoreline to Your Home
It never stops amazing me—the sheer variety of driftwood that washes up on our beaches. Each tide brings something new, shaped by wind, waves, and time. Some of the pieces I collect have travelled thousands of miles, drifting from as far away as South America and the Caribbean before finally coming to rest on our shores.
Over the past decade, interest in driftwood art and furniture has grown rapidly. What began centuries ago in the Far East and India has evolved into a global appreciation for natural, weather‑worn materials and the stories they carry. My work continues that tradition, transforming reclaimed driftwood into unique, handcrafted furnishings for the home.