John and Marilyn Davies, bird carver and painter
John carves birds in wood, enjoying their shape in the hand, and the coast is vital to him. Living near an estuary at Prestatyn, he favours shore birds.
He began woodcarving in 1977 after a year in Michigan where he came into contact with the decoy tradition. During further year-long visits, he worked with carvers in Washington and Utah.
In time his wife Marilyn joined him and he has learned to appreciate her use of colours, particularly their mutedness, her eye for shape and, generally, her role as trusted advisor. A pyrography tool is used to suggest the texture of the feathers, followed by thin washes of acrylic paint.
As Birds in the Wood, their work is sold in a number of galleries and can also be viewed at their studio.
Picture: John and Marilyn with tawny owl
Our Work
Carvings
Most are of British birds, resident or of passage, and are carved in lime wood or jelutong. After texturing and painting, they are mounted on driftwood. These perches are an essential part of the whole piece and John spends many hours searching the Clwyd and Conwy estuaries for them. A favourite is ivy which, once the tree branch is removed, provides attractive whorls of light wood. Other approaches include free-standing birds with feet made of wire and more sculptural pieces made from hardwoods which are left unpainted. The range of birds available varies, but some favourites are: sandpipers, redshanks, greenshanks, kingfishers, sedge warblers, owls, terns, wrens, firecrests.
Carvings
Most are of British birds, resident or of passage, and are carved in lime wood. After texturing and painting, they are mounted on driftwood. These perches are an essential part of the whole piece and John spends many hours searching the Clwyd and Conwy estuaries for them. A favourite is ivy which, once the tree branch is removed, provides attractive whorls of light wood. Other approaches include free-standing birds with feet made of wire and more sculptural pieces made from hardwoods which are left unpainted.
The range of birds available varies, but some favourites are: sandpipers, redshanks, greenshanks, kingfishers, sedge warblers, owls, terns, wrens, firecrests.
Photo is A Sedge warbler on ivy
