Born and bred in Norfolk, Richard Chapman has nurtured a passion for woodturning ever since he was inspired by his woodwork teacher at school.
For 23 years Richard taught Physical Education but his spare time was totally taken up with turning wood as a hobby until, in 1991, he left teaching to give himself entirely to his ‘raison d’etre’. Since then he has gone from strength to strength exhibiting work at various galleries and hosting sell-out shows including two one-man shows at a premier London gallery. His many private commissions include a rosebowl presented to the Queen Mother on her hundredth birthday by the staff of the Sandringham Estate and more recently a piece given as a prize at the Sandringham Flower Show.
Richard is also passionate about the correct management of trees and forests and supports organisations such as the Royal Forestry Society and Woodland Heritage, believing that for every tree that is felled at least two should be planted. For his work he specialises in using salvaged wood that is destined to be burnt. He is known to all nearby landowners and is a familiar sight as he rummages through their wood piles! Trees, like all living things have a finite existance but, through his creative process, Richard saves age old wood for eternity. In his old farm-smithy workshop in the depths of rural Norfolk he is busy turning Nature into Art.
Richard Chapman