Steve Preston
I started carving in 1996, in a bid to help re-establish my hand/eye co-ordination following a scuba diving accident. I am mostly self-taught, but my technique and expectations of my work were greatly improved following some weekend courses and impromptu sessions with the late BILL ROBERTS (a great carver - sadly missed).
Following my early retirement in 2001, I became self-employed as a carver under the name of “CHOP and CHIPS CARVING” (all my carvings are signed as “SKiPY”). In this role I have done many private commissions and run carving classes for adult education and two charities for the blind. I joined The Bentley Wild life Carvers soon after taking up carving
and have enjoyed every minute of my time with the club.
I have entered many competitions and won a number of awards, culminating in my carving of a Thrush winning the Gold Medal in its class and overall competition winner, in the annual carving competition run by Wood Carving Magazine, thus
being given the award of “International Wood Carver of the Year 2011”.
Unfortunately, arthritis has now affected my hands making carving more challenging. As a result I now do far less carving, and only for my own pleasure, and long may THAT last!! .
Following my early retirement in 2001, I became self-employed as a carver under the name of “CHOP and CHIPS CARVING” (all my carvings are signed as “SKiPY”). In this role I have done many private commissions and run carving classes for adult education and two charities for the blind. I joined The Bentley Wild life Carvers soon after taking up carving
and have enjoyed every minute of my time with the club.
I have entered many competitions and won a number of awards, culminating in my carving of a Thrush winning the Gold Medal in its class and overall competition winner, in the annual carving competition run by Wood Carving Magazine, thus
being given the award of “International Wood Carver of the Year 2011”.
Unfortunately, arthritis has now affected my hands making carving more challenging. As a result I now do far less carving, and only for my own pleasure, and long may THAT last!! .