About Me
DENNIS FRENCH has worked in wood since leaving school in 1948. He spent 5 years as an apprentice learning to make traditional Cotswold furniture and since 1958 has lived and worked in Brimscombe Hill.
Now specialising in domestic woodware, hand turned on the lathe, he produces salad bowls and fruit bowls, platters, mirrors and small decorative objects.
In recent years he has been in demand as a demonstrator and represented Great Britain at an international turning seminar at Loughborough college of Art & Design in 1989. His work is included in Betty Norbury's book "British Craftsmanship in Wood".
Dennis also has had work on show at the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff.
Not limited to lathe work only, he makes such everyday needs as boards for bread, cheese, chopping and carving, toast racks, wall mirrors, small stools, clocks, barometers and book-ends all from carefully hand finished kiln-dried British hardwoods.
Two chairs made by Dennis during his apprenticeship may be seen at Rodmarton Manor, Gloucestershire a centre for the display of traditional Cotswold Furniture with a particular focus on Arts & Crafts ideals.
Photograph courtesy of Alexander Caminada