Greg Kent is a wood turner and sculptor. Greg works hard to collect wood from local tree surgeons that would have been used as fire wood. The wood is then 'turned green', this means whilst it is still wet. The shape of the object depends on the wood and/or what has been commissioned. The wood is then turned to a thickness of 2mm and allowed to dry. When dry the wood is sandblasted. This has the effect of removing the soft spring growth leaving a lace like effect. This can only be done with oak which has medullary rays which go across the growth rings. The oak is often left with a natural finish, it can be ebonised or various colour stains are used if they enhance the appearance of the wood and the grain. Greg has spent years perfecting this technique. In fact, there is only one other person in the world producing similar sort of work.
''I currently work as a Geography teacher in a large secondary school in Cumbria. Six years ago, I discovered wood turning and have enjoyed developing my skills and a creativity I never realised I had. Although I have sold much of my work at craft fairs in the North of England and I currently have work at various galleries I have grown frustrated at the largely static nature of the craft using unsustainable sources of wood. I was then fortunate to come across the work of Pascal Oudet, a French wood turner and decided to develop a similar style of work. This involves combining both wood turn and sculpting. What is produced, in my view, is fine art created by nature, and revealed by a craftsman.''