My woodwork grew out of a lifelong love of trees, something that must have begun with my childhood experiences playing in the Australian bush. The trees were always there and their scent, shade and quiet presence can still transport me to the past. I believe we must not destroy pristine forests, so I no longer use rare timbers. Trees do die and can be replaced, so we can make wonderful things from wood as long as we take care not to leave the environment poorer. The average woodworker uses less wood in a lifetime of creativity than a large newspaper uses in one day.

I have always loved languages, both my native English and others. My writing grew from this love and a fascination with why other woodworkers do amazing things. I knew there were stories to be told, so I started to chronicle their lives and dreams. There is something fundamentally charming about devoting your life to woodwork and my writing has enabled me to travel the world to meet many good people. In a world obsessed with speed and glamour I am privileged to spread the life stories of people who live a quiet and methodical life working in wood. We are among those who can make that increasingly rare and profoundly satisfying statement: “I made that.”