Even though I have been working with wood for many years, my full-time job as a teacher of IT (specialising in networking and cyber security) kept me very busy, to the point where I could only dedicate the occasional time on a weekend to get anything done in my workshop. At the start of 2024 I decided to take the big step of retiring with the goal of pursuing my love of woodworking and photography
and become a lot more committed to my Etsy shop. Once I was fully retired I did a big re-design and upgrade of my workshop; new tools and machines plus a really nice dust extraction system which makes my time in the workshop even more enjoyable (and a lot better on my lungs). I also revamped my black and white darkroom and expanded my range of film camera equipment; I now have some wonderful gear from 35mm right up to a huge 8x10” view camera. In woodwork, my preference is to use recycled or scrap timber for most of my work; I scavenge bits and pieces from all over southern Tasmania and there is almost nothing I won't use. The timber often has twisted grain, knots, sap wood, cracks, rusty nail holes – all sorts of problems – which make it harder to work but far more interesting to look at. Occasionally I'll use some of Tasmania’s specialty timbers but, again, it's mostly recycled (or reclaimed) and sometimes I manage to source some mill ends or off-cuts. For my photography, I only use film and print on archival, exhibition quality papers (gelatin silver); I process everything myself in my own darkroom. After spending nearly 25 years in the IT industry it is so satisfying making something tangible, something you can see or touch, something that exists 'in the real world'.
