Jill Crowther
Jill Crowther
Harbour by Lorenzo Gavarini
Lorenzo Gavarini
Shelly Perkins
Shelly Perkins
Catherine Van Giap - fish panel
Catherine Van Giap
William Smith
William Smith

Rew Wood

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Artwork for Rew Wood

Love bugs

Family portrait

Love duck dishes

All of a feather

Chicken, duck & dove dishes

Mushroom hunter

Gossiping Girls

How would you describe the work you do and why?: 

From a young age I have been a lover of the environment and wildlife, campaigning for its protection and later training to care for and nurse some species of injured or abandoned wildlife. My work is often a celebration of those creatures I live with, or care for. I draw, make and sculpt in a free fluid style to show the personalities and unique quirks of my subjects.

I love observing and depicting character. Particularly the everyday magic in the little moments. The over-looked and the common place really attract my eye. It’s the simple acts and habits that shine for me. I find myself delightfully hypnotised when observing a chicken selecting nest sites. Finding a safe spot for a snooze, or her expression when considering laying an egg. Chicken natter fascinates me. A creature’s speed or strength or bulk have never interested me in anything like the same way.
To portray these moments I sculpt in a variety of clays, metals, fabrics and flotsam, using traditional craft techniques but often with a twist. I also paint, guild and smith all manner of up-cycled materials to create a very broad range of products which, I hope, are well observed, characterful, often amusing.

For you what does being an artist mean?: 

I chose to focus on the beauty that is all around us. My subjects might often be quite simple and obvious but they are presented, materially, as a collection of many carefully selected little things which is a deliberate metaphor for the many little things it takes to build the complex and delicate balance of life. Life is truly a great big heaving bewildering mess. As an Artist I simply try to tame that noise and remind people to see the beauty in the little moments.

Describe what you call yourself/your practice?: 

I am Rew (Derived from the initials of my name; Rachel Elizabeth Wood) and I am lucky enough to have my home and studio in the beautiful Marches between the river Monnow and the river Wye surrounded by ancient trees and free roaming wildlife. I live with my partner and three rapidly growing children on our tiny small-holding, sharing our life and space with many chickens, ducks, geese, an assortment of sheep, an ancient and very naughty pig and some extremely wilful small dogs that might identify as dachshunds if you asked them, but that’s unlikely as they are very fast and incapable of speaking politely in good company!

Your gallery outlets/stockists: 

The Albany gallery, Cardiff
Plas Gwen y Weddw, Llanbedrog
The Craft Gallery, Hereford

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