Keith Britten - Wood turner

Keith Britten is a Ledbury resident originally from Essex.

Keith started working life in the diamond industry, re trained in horticulture, setting up his own landscaping business and before retirement he worked as a school site manager.   Lockdown 2020 seemed a good opportunity to develop a new skill, so he bought a lathe and got started in his cellar.

Using YouTube videos and online tutorials, Keith learned quickly through trial, error and lots of expletives!

Keith sources his wood from the local area as well as using pieces given to him by family and friends.

He is always on the look out for interesting pieces of wood to work with.

He started off by making small pieces which then developed into commissions for people. He does this as a hobby and donates a percentage of his profits to a tree planting project. Wood being a natural medium, which can be unpredictable Keith prefers to let it guide him to the final result rather than starting off with a set idea. He enjoys experimenting with different techniques and finishes, (which are not always a success)

 He feels that he still has a lot to learn and continues to enjoy developing his craft.