Hayden Hopwood, Hayden Hopwood (Studio Furniture 2018)

I've been woodworking for more than 30 years, and in that time I have collected a lot of timber; of which the most appealing are the more unusual, rare and unpredictable spalted woods. These can be very colourful, and are often streaky, spotty worm-holed woods with an olde world-worn aged look to them. They are caught in a process of decay and that gives them an interesting story to tell about Nature and Life. I think all the best woodwork has a story to tell, so when I use these timbers in furniture, I add to and embellish their basic story with the help of paint, texture and softly curved forms. I put flesh on the bones to give life and energy to the work. I'm looking for a robust finished piece, something individual with plenty of character; something having, sometimes, maybe, a semblance of personality to it.

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