MARK HANCOCK

Mark Hancock was born in Market Drayton, Shropshire in 1960 and spent the early part of his life in the Cotswolds. His love for woodturning began at school, King Edward V1, Stratford-upon-Avon, long before he knew what career to follow. In 1986 he moved to South Wales to work as an accountant. After 3 years the choice of relocation with the firm he was working for or redundancy gave him the opportunity to do something completely different and more practical. His desire to do woodturning full time led to his taking training with a professional turner. During this apprenticeship he took second prize for turning in the National Eisteddfod of Wales 1990; first prize went to his tutor!

Mark originally set up a studio at his 19th century cottage in the picturesque area of the Brecon Beacons National Park, but has recently moved to Worcestershire. He is already gaining a reputation for his delicate and unusual work. He specialises in turning bowls taking particular care to bring out the natural beauty of the variations in colour, texture and grain already in the wood waiting to be revealed. Mark leaves in what others might see as imperfections, such as knots, splits and captured bark, feeling they can enhance a piece if used in the right way. His one off pieces are signed with his name, the wood used and a unique number.

All of his work is made from local Welsh timbers from environmentally sound sources, some form wind blown trees which he has converted himself and others from people who know the sort of timber he is looking for. In fact many of the more interesting timbers used have come from the pruning of garden ornamental trees and wood discarded as firewood.

He still continues to produce the traditional items such as salad and fruit bowls, table lamps and clocks but here again he uses more interesting timbers than those usually associated with domestic ware giving them a decorative quality as well as being functional.

Mark is a member of the Association of woodturners of Great Britain and the Makers Guild in Wales. His work has been displayed in a number of galleries in Wales including Oriel gallery, Cardiff, the Kilvert Gallery, Clyro, the Old School Gallery, Bleddfa and the Old Chapel Gallery, Pembridge. In April 1991 in the second turning competition he entered and took first prize.