‘Dusty’ scrolls out lessons to keep craft alive
ASCROLL saw artist with more than 35 years of woodwork experience is showing all generations why woodwork is still a beautiful craft worth learning.
Clifford Rose, of Milnrow has become known in the town as ‘Dusty Wood’ for his handy work.
The talented craftsman opened his shop Scroller woodcrafts at The Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre in 2017 but is now located in the old Marks and Spencer building on Yorkshire Street where he recently has begun teaching woodwork lessons for ages ten and above.
He said: “Woodwork is enthralling for me.
“When I first got into woodwork I was sceptical about it because people told me that I wouldn’t earn a lot of money and not many people want to do what I do but I plodded on and I enjoy doing what I do.
“It gives me pleasure to teach people how to craft wood and teach them something they may not otherwise have done. I love meeting people and hearing their questions and listening to what they have to say about my work. It keeps me going and makes me want to make more.”
His long love affair for wood craft began when he was a full time father to five children. The self-taught woodworker would make wooden dolls house furniture and cars for his children.
He left Rochdale in 1991 to East Yorkshire and has been selling his work in markets up and down the country including in Rochdale, Scarborough, East Yorkshire and York.
The father of six started out his craftsmanship journey in 1985 in Rochdale.
Swing Cottage in Hollingworth Lake sold his products around 1996.
Clifford sells items in his shop made by other local woodwork craftsmen and also likes to support other artists on his Facebook page ‘Scroller woodcrafts & Dusty’s Arts Crafts & Curiosity’ by spotlighting their work.
There is nothing Clifford cannot make from portrait cut outs and bedside cabinets to stand up names.
The 62-year-old carves intricate designs in different types of wood; oak, African walnut, MDF and pine.
Well known figures have also made the cut with Boris Johnson, David Bowie, John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe featuring in his work.
The former Roch Valley High School student has been asked to do a woodwork cutout of Rochdale Town Hall.