Hello
We hope that this newsletter finds you and your family well. It’s been a while since our last update and there’s lots to share with you!
Thank you all for being here and, to the new subscribers, welcome! You may have found us after seeing the recent film on Sunday Morning Stories. If so, thank you for watching.
we escaped to the country!
Back in October last year, we finalised the sale of our house in Lancashire and moved to Derbyshire. We spent the first three months in holiday cottages while our new house was being completed but we’re here now, settled, unpacked and Chris’ rebuilt workshop is up and running.
We are very grateful to Howdens for their support and the supply of cupboards and cabinets for the workshop. They were kind enough to offer Chris funding and it’s been put to good use since as we’ve been able to start welcoming woodturning students again. Our first visitor was Nathan Adams, a young woodturner with cerebral palsy. As well as being his woodturning mentor, Chris has partnered with Nathan on a project called Turnability, to convey the message that there is no limit to what anyone, disabled or able-bodied, can achieve.
new website
I’ve been working on Chris’ website and it’s now had a refresh and an update. It retains Chris’ branding, logo and colours.
We’ll be adding items to the shop over the coming weeks but, in the meantime, we’re delighted to tell you about our partnership with Taurean Arts in Ashbourne.
Predominantly a ceramics gallery, the owner Matthew loves Chris’ work. It all started when I spotted a table in the window and popped in to enquire about the price. The table wasn’t for sale but it led to a conversation about Chris and his woodturning. A few months later, after the delays of lockdown, Matthew was in touch again, keen to see some of Chris’ bowls, platters and goblets.
Having his work in a gallery fulfils one of Chris’ ambitions to evolve into a woodturning artist, like his hero, Nick Agar.
news
We were in London last weekend filming the second part for a BBC documentary about blind artists. We don’t have any information yet but transmission is likely to be any time from July onwards. We’ll keep you posted once we have more details.
In the meantime, you can watch other footage of Chris on the Media page on the website.
We’re absolutely loving our new life in Derbyshire, as is Bamber! He loves a good sniff of all the rural smells around here! He worked like a trouper in London which was a very different environment for him. He was a star on the set while filming multiple takes, he settled quickly in the taxis and found a little spot for himself on the train, stowed in the gap between the seats. Chris has his annual Guide Dog visit on Friday, his first in Derbyshire, and he’ll be doing some route planning with the Guide Dog Instructor.
Thanks for reading and subscribing to our newsletter.
Have a great May. Keep on turning!
Nicola, Chris and Bamber