Mike Palmer

Mike Palmer started turning wood over twenty years ago - it has become a wonderful outlet for his enjoyment and creativity. He has always been fascinated by the look and feel of wood, but turning gives him the chance to put this amazing material to use. Turning bowls and hollow forms using hardwoods native to the UK is Mike’s idea of fun. He sources and converts all his wood. He is particularly drawn to turning bowls with a natural edge, which can look oval, although they are, of course, round. Lately, he has been exploring hollow forms and using colour to enhance pieces.

He came to woodturning after a 20-year career as a Weapons Engineer Officer in the Royal Navy and then spent 25 years delivering Project Leadership courses for many global companies around the world. Now Mike has time to devote to this fantastic pastime. One of his main pleasures is to figure out how to select and cut the wood so that he can make the best use of the grain, figure, and bark. When pondering on his work Mike says -

“The wonderful thing about woodturning is that you have to develop your ability by practicing, and then overcoming the mistakes you inevitably make. No craft skill can be developed unless you have a few disasters, and I have had - and continue to have - many!

I find the most thrilling stage of any project is when I come to coat the piece with wax-oil at the very end - this reveals the colour and figure of the wood in all its glory, but it also emphasizes any mistakes I have made with the shaping, refining, and sanding!”

If you wish to commission a piece by Mike, do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

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