One Ash: Liz Pearson
Nestled in the hedgerow at the back of a garden in rural Berkshire we find the Love Heartwood workshop where Liz Pearson is busy with wood-turning projects including the One Ash.
What have you been up to with your piece of the One Ash since felling day?
I took a selection of branches away with me from the felling. I wanted to design and make an alternative to plastic bowls, plates and cups for families; tableware that wouldn’t pollute the earth or damage the user's health.
The 3 bears collection is a series of functional bowls, plates and cups that can be used in a variety of ways by the whole family. Each item is engraved on the base with the words 'One Ash' and a number. So far I've made 72 pieces and each one is unique.
What’s the process from block of wood to a beautiful bowl?
The easiest way to explain this is to watch this video showing the steps to make a wooden bowl.
Do you know exactly how you want the piece to look from the start or does it emerge during the process?
I trained as a product designer before I took up woodturning so I use the creative process I was taught to develop my ideas. It's important to me that my products are functional not just attractive so I start with an idea and then do a series of sketches. From there, I refine the idea by making several different versions on the lathe. I keep honing the shape till I'm happy with it. Once I've made one I'm happy with, I will remake that shape each time, however, as each piece of wood is unique and I work freehand, they all turn out slightly different.
How did you get started with your craft?
I discovered woodturning during my product design degree as there was a lathe in the college workshop. I graduated in 2007 but it took until 2013 to get a lathe of my own. I joined my local woodturning club and never looked back.
What are you essential tools?
My workshop is very small but luckily you don't need much machinery for turning. A lathe is essential as are about 7 hand tools designed specifically for turning. I also have a chainsaw and a bandsaw which make turning a piece of tree into a wood blank that's ready to turn a lot easier.
Are you noticing a growing interest in wood craft revival at the moment?
Woodturning revived in the 1960's as a hobby and has continued to grow in popularity since. I wouldn't say there's a specific wood craft revival at the moment but there's definitely an upswing in interest in crafts generally. This I'm sure is due to people trying to beat the boredom of lockdown. More broadly there is a growing interest in more sustainable and locally made products which is benefitting woodturning.
How do you see the future for wood craft? What would you say to anyone wishing to get started?
If you'd like to have a go at woodturning going along to your local woodturning club is a great first step. Most clubs have workshop days so you can have a go, under supervision, using the club equipment. If you then want to buy your own lathe and tools you'll get great advice on the best ones to suit you and your available space. There's also secondhand equipment for sale.
Unfortunately, at the moment, many clubs are not meeting face to face, so some 1:1 socially distanced lessons might be the answer and many wood-turners, including myself, have restarted lessons again.
If you would like to find out more about Liz’s work with the One Ash project follow her journal.
You can read about all the crafters, artists and wood-workers on the One Ash project page.
An exhibition of the One Ash project, including Liz’s work, is planned for 2022 and will form part of the 10-year celebration of all that Andover Trees United has achieved, including the completion of planting in Harmony Woods.