Martin Damen – portfolio
Contact the artist
https://www.martindamen.com
01295 758519
martin@martindamen.com
Use the Contact Page at https://www.martindamen.com/contact
The artist at work
https://flipbookpdf.net/web/site/cddcafa13a82a2a1cede5f97f184d219870d0b7d202505.pdf.html
https://www.artweeks.org/wp-content/uploads/formidable/13/martin-damen-exhibition-1034473223.pdf
https://flipbookpdf.net/web/site/cddcafa13a82a2a1cede5f97f184d219870d0b7d202505.pdf.html
Artist information
I do not come from a creative background. I grew up in a family where, despite enjoying woodwork at school, greater value was placed on purely academic subjects such as mathematics and the sciences. Consequently, it was not until I had finished a career in the Army 22 years later that, in 2000, an opportunity arose to practice traditional greenwood working.
In 2012 I gave up a part-time job with the National Trust to practice greenwood working full time. After starting with turned items and some furniture I began to specialise in hand carving spoons, bowls and related items.
It is the simplicity of the craft that I enjoy the most. There is great satisfaction to be found in making beautiful hand-crafted “simple” utensils that the owner can have the pleasure of using every day. I do every process in the making of each piece from collecting timber from where it stood less than 10 miles from the workshop, through fashioning the item using simple hand tools to preparing it for sale and ultimately passing it on to its new owner. This is the world of the “Slow Spoon”!
My first inspiration was, and still is, Bob Shaw who introduced me to greenwood working over 20 years ago. He is a woodland owner, natural craftsman and a long standing advocate for sustainability. I also find inspiration in the work of Dan Dustin, an American “Hand Spoonmaker” who uses the characteristics of the wood to make spoons that are beautiful in their apparent simplicity.
In 2012 I had a workshop built at the bottom of my garden. It is very much “my space” organised the way I want. It is not always tidy; it may be knee deep in shavings when I have a lot of work on. In fact, the only time it really is tidy is when I’m teaching. If not making or teaching, then I’m happy to be in the workshop doing other jobs such as sharpening tools or sweeping up!
Exhibition information
I am a greenwood worker specialising in carving spoons, bowls and related items using locally sourced timber and the simplest of traditional hand tools.
This year I shall be exhibiting at two different venues. To start with, from the 16th until the 21st May I shall be exhibiting with eight other artists, all working in different media, at St. Michael’s Church in Aynho (Venue 515). The work that I will be exhibiting this year will feature tableware and kitchenware, ranging from butter knives to bowls and a few spoons. All the work is made entirely by hand using locally sourced timber and simple hand tools.
PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE IN START DATE. On Friday 23nd May (previously 22 May) until the end of Artweeks 2025 on Monday 26th May I will be exhibiting and demonstrating in my workshop at Honeysuckle Cottage (Venue 523). This is very much the “open studio” part of my Artweeks 2025 exhibition. It presents an opportunity for visitors to discover a bit about traditional craft.
I look forward to your visit and having a chat and a cuppa!