‘creative, eco-friendly woodwork with style & personality’

Andrew (Olly) Oliver
Designer Craftsman

Thoughts & Process

Making items for sale, and by bespoke commissions.

Combining hand tools, power tools, and workshop

machinery allows flexibility and efficiency. Materials are usually salvaged or locally sourced. Items are made with an approach respectful to the

environment. The work I create has a traditional/contemporary mix informed by broad research and trusting my personal taste. Currently

working on items which merge 50’s design and bodging principals. More vivid work I’ve been making

for a while fuses Victorian furniture with surrealist

imagery and sculptural facets. Some ideas start off with hand drawn design work and some evolve through deconstructing found objects, or ‘play’ with materials.

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Oak Bread Board made at Kigbeare using locally sourced timber.

Cornwall

The experience at Falmouth was extremely valuable and diverse. It gave me the opportunity to engage

with students, technicians, lecturers and the public a real melting pot for inspiration. Contemporary Crafts was based in The Design Centre at Tremough, an

open plan space designed to give different courses a chance to mix and broaden their experience. Truly a

hive of creativity.

Workshops

Beginners and intermediate woodwork sessions available, please register your interest by e-mail phone or Facebook.

Walk away with a finished item, seek help with

a project or practice a skill.

Yorkshire

When I gained orders from graduate shows I needed somewhere to work and heard about workshop space in York my home city. Here I completed orders, worked on new ideas and salvaged pieces for some time.

At the workshop I had in York immediate

neighbours were a Sculptor, Poet, Fine Art Painter, Printmaker, French Polisher,

Upholsterer and an opera prop making group. That was a privilege and an asset where I gained invaluable insights and experience.

Education

BA Hons Contemporary Crafts

Falmouth College of Art

National Diploma Art and Design

York College

Excellent Art tutors at school, college and

university helped to nurture my artistic ability from a young age. Going on to Contemporary Crafts at degree level I took away valuable making, analytical and research skills.

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Hand carved spoons in progress.

Devon

Now at my Devon workshop I am broadening my skills making work from scratch using locally sourced wood while

still working with Salvage. My neighbours are another Furniture Craftsman and

Photographer, and Artist Painter Printmaker, a Jeweller/ Silversmith (my better half), a Silversmith, and two Potters. There are also visiting exhibiters, a gallery and a variety of classes hosted at Kigbeare. It’s truly an inspiring place,

again with great people around me.

Kigbeare Studios and Gallery, Southcott, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 4NL.

Copyright © Andrew Oliver 2007-2015