Helping to cut ladies into pieces, part of Steve's first career, laid the foundation for his creative woodworking. He began as a folk musician and performer with an Art's Council of Great Britain sponsored community arts group, the legendary Magic Lantern. He also designed and built stage sets and magic illusions, like the one mentioned above.

Steve quickly saw the potential for self-expression in the artistic aspect of turning. He has developed a distinctive style of work while acknowledging the inspiration he has drawn from contemporary artists. In 1983 and 1984 he was in two-man exhibitions in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, England with ceramic artist Gary Wornell.

From these unlikely beginnings, he began making custom furniture and restoring antiques in Suffolk, England. He started woodturning in 1979, in order to provide himself with the components he needed in this business and is largely self-taught.

Workshop in Canning, Nova Scotia

Since the 1980's he has been called upon to do architectural turnings for new buildings and the restoration of historical properties.

In 1989 he moved to France and lived in the Dordogne, in a 400 year old farm house where he continued his artistic turning and furniture making.

His turned boxes featured in the exhibition of the French sculptor Dominique Rayou in the mediaeval town of Sarlat. From this he was invited to exhibit his work in various galleries and exhibitions in the South of France including Créa in Cadouin and Art Présent and l'Exposition d'Artisanat d'Art in Toulouse and in other galleries in Carcassonne and Lascaux.

Steve was chosen to be one of the "38 Artisans of the Aquintaine" exhibiting in the beautiful old cloisters in the famous wine growing town of Saint Emilion in both 1990 and 1991, and was one of three chosen to represent artist-craftsmen of the area, in sending examples of his work for exhibition in Fukuoka, Japan.

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In 1997 Steve moved to Nova Scotia on the East Coast of Canada with his Canadian born wife, where he quickly found a niche in the arts and crafts community. His studio gallery in Canning in the beautiful Annapolis Valley is open to the public. He teaches the art of woodturning to interested beginners and advanced turners alike.

He is a juried member of the Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council. He exhibits his work in many galleries including Del Mano Gallery in Los Angeles.

His work is in private collections around the world, including China and Korea and all over Europe, Scandinavia and North America.

Steven's photography can be seen on his site - Shadows and Light.

AWARDS:

Birdseye Maple Writing Desk won the award for 'Best New Product 2001' at the NSDCC Show in November. Photograph on gallery 5.

'Golfers' Dream' box was awarded second prize in the Open Class of the Westcoast Woodturning Competition in British Columbia in October, 2001.

'Le Soleil' box was chosen for inclusion in the 'Watermark' Exhibition at the Mary E. Black gallery in Halifax, June 28-August 4, 2001, and also won the 'Juror's Choice Award' there.

'Saturn' box was winner of the 'Best New Product' award at the NSDCC Festival of the Arts, 1999

Thin walled fruitwood bowls won the prize for 'Innovation' at the NSDCC Festival of the Arts, 1999

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