The
Artist
Cruickshank is guided by the grace and grain of the wood, to reveal the spirits within. Every carving is created by hand from wood collected during his time as a tree surgeon.
Bio
David Cruickshank is a Jamaican born, British artist who creates biomorphic forms in wood. From chainsaw to chisel, he has spent a lifetime revealing the invisible and hidden woodland spirits into tangible works of art within his carvings. His love for trees and his intertwined history with them, from a child climbing, to tree surgeon and conservationist of old structures, has rooted a deeper passion & respect for the woodlands and wood as a medium to express himself and celebrate the wood for it's own distinctive qualities.
Dryads in ancient Greek are the wood nymph spirit of the trees and act as guardians to their nature and gatekeeper to their secrets. Organic shapes evoke these myths and the individual freedom of each form reflects the connection and response to the natural world inhabited by the Dryad. His tactile and evocative subjects are arrived at by following the grain of the wood unique to every piece. The splits and shakes of lumps of wood that have been seasoned for many years guide his eye and hand to discover the core of the character embodied in the organic growth of the tree.
The original wooden piece becomes the model for moulding and casting in cold cast resin and bronze which allows for the production of limited editions.
Studio
Cruickshank carves from his home & garden in Rye, East Sussex. Tucked away from a cobbled street lies this hidden garden with hidden entry from a tunnel of fig and hydrangeas which open up to a spectacular view towards Rye harbour. In the backdrop of this serene environment Cruickshank works on his collection of wooden pieces to begin to reveal the biomorphic Dryad forms latent within. A modest studio with an array of power tools, chisels allow Cruickshank to manipulate and shape the wood. Being surrounded by natural light and the historic view creates a calm environment allowing for the pursuit of the stories embodied in the grain of the wood.
