MAKERS | EUROPE | UK | WOODWORK
Rollo Durnford Wood | Cabinetmaker
Cabinetmaker Rollo Durnford Wood is a pioneer at the forefront of reviving the near-lost art of caravan restoration, renowned for his skilful work honed through self-taught study of the time-honored techniques used by wagon makers and artisans. He describes it as a process of solitude and meditation; carving, fettling and painting in his converted barn studio in rural Wales.
How did you begin?
I first began making with my father. My parents bought a tumble-down farm in Warwickshire when I was four. My dad fixed up and decorated every inch of the place, I was his helper. Our home was a riot of pattern and colour, with a steady stream of lodgers and creatives passing through, it was an incredibly inspiring place to grow up and was the seed of everything I create today. It was my wife (artist Freyja Lee) who first introduced me to wagons, we bought two showman's wagons, which are reminiscent of railway carriages, and had them side by side with a firepit and a wood-fired bathtub.
How did you learn?
I left school as soon as I could aged seventeen, wanting to be out in the world. After a pottery apprenticeship I worked with a family friend making furniture for a brief time. Here I learned the basics of woodworking and design which has flowed into what I do today. However, the real learning came from years of being self-employed and working abroad, things that cannot be taught in a sense. I’m still learning.
How do you plan, prepare and create?
In all the disciplines I work in I try and trust my intuition, my eye and my hand. I have found that if I overthink things I do not always get the best results. Where possible, for the more artistic side of my work, I allow myself to regress and simplify. With the restoration and making of wagons however, this approach does not work as standards and codes of practice need to be honoured. Equally with the larger cabin projects planning and careful consideration is most important. I find these two approaches to work stretch and fulfil me in a myriad of diverse ways whilst informing each other.
Who or what most influences your work?
I am influenced by nature and raw material. There is endless joy and possibilities to be found. I feel us humans tend to over complicate things to our own detriment. The most influential artist would be Brancusi for his raw, honest carvings.
What does a typical day look like?
Because of my varied work, I do not have a typical day. Which makes things fresh and keeps me engaged. Some days I will be quietly making pots, for my wife Freyja to decorate. Another day will find me at an abandoned farm salvaging wriggly tin for a cabin build. Other days I may be carving chamfers on a wagon axel I am restoring, coach painting colourful details on a carved wagon crown board or driving across the country to strike a deal with a travelling man. A good day always starts with a strong coffee.
One more thing... What is an object you cherish?
The two objects that I cherish are my hands. Battle worn and scarred they tell a story, of misadventure and hard graft, injury and energy. No longer young, but hands with still much to make.
Words by Cosmo Brockway
Images by Julian Broad and Ros Atkinson
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