Paul Reeves - Wood Turner

Artist Statement:

Paul Reeves, a skilled wood turner, presents a unique collection of cremation vessels. Crafted from trees that have reached the end of their lives, whether due to age, disease, or strong winds, these vessels predominantly originate from the New Forest and surrounding areas. By personally selecting and cutting the trees, Paul gains access to exquisite wood that cannot be obtained otherwise. Collecting suitable timber is an ongoing process, as it takes years for large billets to season fully. The anticipation of uncovering the hidden beauty within a freshly sliced trunk remains a highlight of each wood collection endeavor.

Working from the tree to the final product allows him to create stunning, individual urns that are worthy of honoring loved ones. These biodegradable urns serve as fitting memorials, suitable for home display or woodland burial. Smaller urns cater to multiple locations or the desire to retain a portion of ashes. 

In addition to his urns, Paul also crafts memorial candle bowls designed to hold cherished mementos like photographs, personal messages, show tickets, watches, or keepsakes from memorable trips. These bowls can be lit on special occasions or whenever one wishes to reminisce. Furthermore, Paul creates KeepSafe boxes, specifically designed to hold small personal items such as rings, necklaces, personal messages, or a portion of ashes for safekeeping.

See his whole collection here.

Commissions: 

Commissions are available incorporating favorite colors or name plaques but materials are limited to what wood is available to the artist at any given time.

Artist’s Bio:

Paul Reeves's affinity for woodworking dates back to his early childhood, when he eagerly assisted his father in constructing a Canadian-style canoe. In 1995, he rekindled his passion for woodturning, embarking on a journey of learning, creating, and participating in national competitions, often achieving acclaim. Notably, his work was selected for the prestigious 'Daniel Collection' a prominent private collection of wood art in Britain. Presently, Paul divides his time at the lathe between teaching, demonstrating his craft, and producing functional and artistic pieces.

Images of Paul’s work on dyingarts:

Control-click (Mac) or right-click (PC), to download images. Photo credits are in the file name. Images from his collection in the shop can also be saved to Pinterest and downloaded from there.

All photos by Simon Frend