Lesley . . .
Pyrography (or Pokerwork as it was known in Victorian times) is the art of burning designs into wood, leather, paper, etc. with heated tools. It had long been a "burning ambition" (!) of mine to learn this craft. This ambition was finally realised when I had the opportunity to have a go at the Harrogate Craft Materials Show in 2001, where Bob Neill was demonstrating. I was immediately hooked, and have spent many happy hours burning my Celtic designs on to boxes and plaques. It was a revelation to me when I found that I could burn designs onto paper too - a whole new world opened up!
The 6 examples below can be seen in more detail by clicking on the thumbnails (click BACK to return here!) They are:
Two pencil-boxes - pyrography on pine
A coaster - pyrography on beech
Two celtic designs - pyrography on watercolour paper
The coaster shows my first attempt at pyrography - a Celtic circle of my own design.
The cat on the pencil box is a representation of the cat from the Lindisfarne Gospels.
The duck burnt on watercolour paper is my first attempt at wildlife pyrography and comes from Norma Gregory's 'Pyrography Designs'.
Lesley at Lesley@lesleydavies.co.uk or
Brian at response@bdavies.co.uk