Stuart King

Craftsman, artist, woodturner, and photojournalist

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Folk art

Wild wood Archaeology

The Wildwood is still giving up its secrets, albeit slowly. Exploration started rather late due to a wet spring but continued well into the autumn with each carefully dug and recorded trench revealing a little more of life from prehistory to the medieval period.

Mary Rose — making a sailor’s boxwood hair comb

I recently visited the new Mary Rose museum at Portsmouth. What a fantastic job they have done. I was so taken by the sailor’s boxwood hair combs that it was straight to the workshop to make a couple of examples.

Wizardry in Wood exhibition 2012

Wizardry in Wood is the worlds premiere show case for the craft, historical and contemporary, held every four years in the City of London.

Khokhloma ware: folk art for the masses

Few visitors return from Russia without a painted wooden souvenir reflecting the traditional Khokhloma folk art. Khokhloma ware has a very long tradition and can be traced back to both the monastic and peasant culture of the seventeenth century. The predominant materiel used in making these various decorated containers and tableware is Birch, Lime and Maple.

The Caversham Village Sign: carved by Stuart King

In some parts of England there is a tradition of carved wooden signs depicting the unique qualities of the area and often erected on the village green. Usually created by a local craftsman, they instill a sense of identity and pride, and are rivaled only by the English pub sign for originality. They are part […]

Making Gypsy Flowers

The most impressive gypsy flowers were created from wood, Elder being the Romanies’ preferred material. A short peg knife is the only tool required.