Woodworker, Modelmaker, Artist
My work has always happened at the interface between art, science and engineering. On one hand, I get a deep satisfaction from grasping scientific concepts, understanding how things work and are constructed, on the other hand I love working intuitively in traditional media such as wood, paper, ink and paint.
My journey began with training in academic science. I then sought to bring this closer to hands on creating by learning the craft of wooden boatbuilding. During my 20 years as boatbuilder and furniture maker, I often used cardboard prototypes to visualize and experiment with designs. This, in conjunction with learning computer aided design software, gave birth to the idea of my paper model kits, which merges my interest in drawing and painting with the technical aspects of construction and modelmaking.
Designing my paper model kits, the process involves photography and research of the buildings and towns, their history and surroundings. I make series of drawings in ink and watercolour of the facades, details, textures, patterns and impressions without thinking about scale, or how everything might fit together. I make digital scans of all the artwork and, using a combination of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, I create kits ready to cut out and assemble. The greatest challenge lies in simplifying my models to make them easy and enjoyable to assemble without loosing their details, essence and story.
I often use homemade concertina sketchbooks to take with me on my daily walks - this format allows me to tell a story, or take the onlooker on my walks with me. The 3D effect created by the concertina folding is similar to that of my paper models. This, in turn, has inspired me to try out more in the panorama format.
Fundamentally, I am interested in the tensions created between the townscapes and natural landscapes around me - the contrast between the infrastructures created by humans and their wild, natural surroundings. Even when I’m surrounded by walls, concrete, electricity, people and cars, I am always aware of the eternally heaving and pounding ocean and the wind sweeping over the mountains.
My Curriculum Vitae
II was born in Germany in 1971 and came to live in Ballydehob, West Cork at the age of nine.
Upon completing my Leaving Cert at Schull Community College in 1989, I studied Science at UCC, graduating with a BSc in Experimental Physics in 1993.
In 1994, I began an apprenticeship at Creative Woodmanufacturing Ltd in Ballydehob, West Cork, and formalized my training by completing the City & Guilds in wooden boat and yacht building at IBTC in East Suffolk, UK.
· In 1995 I set up business with my partner Rui Ferreira, building wooden boats and furniture. We worked for one year in Lisbon, Portugal, and subsequently moved back to West Cork to set up our workshop here.
In 2010 I was selected by the Crafts Council of Ireland (now the DCCI), to travel to Hardanger Fartoyvernsenter in Norway, for a two week work placement at this hands-on boatbuilding museum. My experience there inspired me to set up a series of boatbuilding workshops in Ballydehob, teaching interested adults my skills.
· This in turn lead me to become part of the Education Panel selected to deliver CraftEd, an initiative by the DCCI for craftspeople to deliver workshops at primary schools around Ireland. From 2012 to 2014 I completed three 5 week projects with West Cork schools.
My work with children, inspired me to look more closely at ideas of working with materials like paper and cardboard. I launched TinyIreland in 2013, designing paper model kits of irish buildings and streets. As well as an extensive product range available on my website and selected shops around the country, I have completed numerous commissions, including a tiny Glucksman, Uillinn, Crawford Art Gallery and many hotels, pubs, shops and even Credit Unions.
I have shown and sold my work at numerous Craft and Design fairs, including Showcase Ireland 2014, The Glucksman (2016, 2017, 2018) and the Uillinn (West Cork Arts Centre) in 2018 and 2019.
· Currently, I continue to create new models for TinyIreland, as well as working on commissioned model kits.
During the past 4 years, I have been experimenting with various media: watercolour, pen, charcoal and pastel. Drawing inspiration from my immediate surroundings, I draw and paint landscapes, townscapes, found objects and illustrate my own stories.
I am a member of the Pastel Guild of Europe
Currently, I am working on a children’s book about a seagull.