Centrespace gallery, Bristol
18th September – 30th September 2026
Connections through Wood is an exhibition of Bristol based woodworkers, showing what is possible when an artistic eye meets traditional skills. They have been exploring the importance of connections created when objects are made by hand. From material sourcing, through the making process, and into their intended use, connections are all around. This exhibition invites visitors to reflect on those connections and what they mean to them. There will be a short film interviewing each maker which will be shown during the event, and also live demonstrations by some of the makers. There will also be bookable courses which will run in the evenings of the second week. Please follow along on instagram to stay up to date by clicking here.
The exhibition will preview on Friday 18th September (6-9pm), and then run until Wednesday 30th September (10-6pm) every day.
Centrespace Gallery
Leonard Lane
Bristol
BS1 1EA
We’re delighted with the list of exceptional makers we will have exhibiting. There is a curated mix of experiences, ages and skills on show, ensuring something for everyone. More details to follow…
Getting There
By Car – NCP Bristol Rupert Street is the nearest and easiest to access, then a 5 minute walk.
By Bike – Lots of bike racks by the Quay Street Diner, then a 2 minute walk.
By Train – A 20 minute walk from Bristol Temple Meads.
By Bus – Any bus to the centre will work.
Makers
Flo Hamer
Flo is a traditional craftswoman specialising in basketry and green woodworking. She loves working with natural materials and using traditional techniques to create functional long lasting pieces.
Flo teaches a range of courses in traditional crafts, as well as being a full time maker. Having been an attendee on the Wood, Water, Weave course in 2023, she is now delighted to be bring those splint basketry skills to a wider audience.
Winner of best Contemporary Basket 2023 in the ‘Basketry of the Year’ competition held by the Basketmakers Association. Flo also had an Ash Basket shortlisted in the ‘Bespoke Product Design’ category in the 2023 ‘Wood Awards’.
HARRY MORRIS
Harry started woodworking at the age of 13 in his dad’s garage, carving spoons and watching instructional videos on YouTube. After travels to Japan and Australia researching and working with wood he acheived a degree w/ distinction in furniture making from Westdean College.
He currently splits his time between making quirky windsor chairs (including teaching at Westonbirt Arboretum), antique furniture restoration and a food growing project called Got Greens.
Winner of the 2023 Heritage Crafts / Axminster Tools Young Woodworker of the Year Award
GEOFF HANNIS
Geoff has always been fascinated with working wood, however it wasn’t until 2018 that he discovered the joy of working green wood through the Cherry Wood Project and the Somerset Bodgers at Tyntesfield House. Having learnt from some of the best craftspeople in the country, he makes unique wood-turned creations in his workshop at Grow Wilder. He recently benefited in being named the QEST Turners’ Company Emerging Maker, learning how to make stop-turned vessels, a technique unique to the pole lathe.
ALISTAIR PARK
For over 30 years Alistair has been making sculptures ranging in size from tiny pendants, to large pieces that I can’t move on my own, some weighing well over half a ton! Over this time he has developed into one of the finest wood carvers in the country. The objects he makes reflect his interest in craft skills and he is fascinated by the stories associated with objects made by hand; whether they come from collecting the raw materials, forming the object itself, or its existence after it leaves the maker and goes out into the world. By using thoughtfully sourced wood each piece comes with its own unique story.
ALEX SKAWINSKI
Alex is a furniture maker working with locally sourced felled ash. Often making chairs or other seated articles (also known as stools). They were a tutor on the Westonbirt windsor chair making course and also have completed many commissions in wood.
OLLIE DORMAN
Oliver Dorman is a Bristol-based artist who grew up in London and recently returned to the UK after several years living and working in New Zealand. His practice moves between painting, drawing and woodcarving. Having studied Fine Art at Central Saint Martins and Historic Woodcarving at City & Guilds of London Art School, he approaches wood as both a material with deep cultural resonance and a vehicle for contemporary thought. His work explores perception, memory and the ways materials carry meaning across time, seeking points where traditional craft and contemporary art become inseparable.
LOUIS JOHNSTON
Louis is a designer maker based in Bedminster, having studied Industrial Design a need to create with his hands rather than a computer quickly became apparent. Using locally sourced timber and waste wood he creates a wide range of items, from furniture and sculptures to spoons and homeware. His work focuses on texture and tactility, creating bespoke items that will last a lifetime.
RAE WOODS
Rae Woods is a traditional woodworker based in Abergavenny, crafting functional, enduring forms from homegrown and reclaimed timber – ranging from chairs to timber frames, boats, and small-scale dwellings. Their practice is rooted in sustainability, heritage, and the belief that good craftsmanship should be both accessible and regenerative. With a background in furniture making, they are drawn to how wood carries with it a sense of place, time, and use. Accessibility is a key aspect of their work; they teach woodworking to marginalised groups, highlighting the importance of visibility and inclusion in craft and a means of empowerment.
ADAM MORGAN
Adam Morgan is an artist/maker working in both wood and printmaking. Drawing from his time as a landscaper, his practice responds to seasonal shifts through the collection and harvest of natural materials.
At university his studies centred around the relationship between traditional craft and contemporary sculpture. Exploring the materiality of the tree in all its forms: the legacy of wooden artefacts and the ephemeral nature of greenwood.
Adam’s work considers ‘what came before and what we leave behind’.
Johannes roux
For Johannes, working with wood is far more than the making of objects. It is a practice of slowing down, paying close attention, and finding meaning in the quiet process of shaping a natural material. His relationship with wood began in childhood, watching his father at work and learning from him, just as his father had learned from the previous generation. Today, he continues to use some of their tools.
Using reclaimed and naturally fallen local timber, he creates one-of-a-kind pieces that celebrate the unique character, beauty, and imperfections of each piece of wood. This approach reflects a belief in treading lightly on the earth, making the fullest possible use of every piece of timber entrusted to him. Even the smallest offcuts are transformed into distinctive pieces of jewellery, ensuring that little is wasted.
Inspired by organic forms found in nature and centuries of traditional vessel making, his work is rooted in both heritage and observation. Most pieces are turned on the lathe and often refined through hand carving.
