Alan writes "I was a schoolteacher for many years, then an OU tutor - but for the last 35 years I have also been a "hobby woodcarver", having acquired a taste for it (and the basic skills) at an evening class. Now that I am retired, I hope to have more time to spend hitting pieces of wood with sharp implements, and my wife wants some of her wall-space back - so it is time to sell some of my work.
Much of my work over the past couple of decades has been mirror frames, but nothing simple- I like the frame to be a picture (or story, or joke) in its own right, with the mirror an integral part of it.  When one of these comes out particularly successful, I also write it up for Woodcarving Magazine.
I also do plaques and the occasional abstract - but I normally work in relief rather than in the round.
Inspiration might come from anywhere - stories, countryside, birthday cards - anything that catches my interest."

​