Woodworkers celebrate the inspiration of wood

Woodworkers on Arran have carved out their second successful Inspiration of Wood Festival which was even more popular and well attended than their debut exhibition last year.

The two-day festival, held at Corrie and Sannox Village Hall, showcased the useful, attractive and inspirational uses of wood, with exhibits and demonstrations from the various groups of craftspeople that work with the medium of wood.

On display in the hall were numerous carvings from well-known woodcarvers, Marvin Elliot and Henry Murdo, who provided visitors with an opportunity to try their hands at carving.

Exhibiting their craft were picture frame makers, guitar makers, wood turners and furniture makers, and photographers, as well as a fine display of historic and rare woodworking tools, which Stuart Gough has collected over numerous years. Members of the Forestry Commission were also on hand with an informative display and interesting information about declining tree species and wood varieties on Arran.

Inside, too, model boat builder, George Welford demonstrated his skill in working with lime wood – painstakingly building model boats – while outside, full-scale boat builders from Arran Coastal Rowing displayed their finely crafted skiff Seabhag.

In the garden, lumberjack Mark Bunyan and artist Robert Coia demonstrated milling raw lumber and remarkably detailed chainsaw carvings.

Showing an equal amount of patience as the woodcarvers, Corinna Goeckeritz, ranger and naturalist from the National Trust for Scotland, packed a large charcoal maker with rhododendron wood to make charcoal the 14-hour all night process was then taken over by senior ranger Kate Samson and the finished product was available to view on Sunday.

The proceeds from its sale will go to buying and planting more trees at Brodick Castle and Country Park.

Providing Corinna with a helping hand, Sam Easson who constructs well-built yurts, demonstrated the time consuming work that goes into yurt construction with two examples of his work; one of which could easily accommodate a group of six comfortably.

Woodcarver, sculptor and host of Inspiration of Wood, Marvin Elliott thanked all of the exhibitors, visitors, demonstrators and artists themselves for contributing to a very successful and popular event.

01_B27wood05 Woodworker Mark Bunyan demonstrates his Alaskan Mill.

01_B27wood06 Seasonal ranger at Brodick Castle, Amy Bennett provided visitors with information and sold the National Trust charcoal.

01_B27wood03 George Welford of Lamlash builds a wooden replica of an 1860s era steamship.