driftaway Bill Westaway Driftwood Art and Furniture

I was born in Newton Abbot, Devon in 1947, one of eight children. On leaving school I took up an apprenticeship with a chimney construction company based in the Midlands. My first project was the brick chimney at Newton Abbot Hospital and from there worked all over the UK, Ireland, Germnay, Belgium and the Falkland Isles.

I moved back to Devon with my wife and family in 1983. The industry changed and I became more involved with domestic building work but I have always enjoyed letting my imagination run when given the opportunity including specialist public houses all over Germany and Belgium.

In 2003 I had a heart attack and with this enforced departure from the building trade and time on my hands I was able to indulge my imagination. It started with water features and then progressed to driftwood art and I must say that I have never achieved such satisfaction and peace while working during my lifetime.

Most of the time my walks on South Devon beaches dictate what I make. A specific piece of wood, type of shell, fishing line or shaped piece of glass just spark my imagination and it goes from there. Occasionally I cannot find all my materials on the beach but I do try to recycle the flotsam and jetsam wherever possible. For example my ship, which is approximately 2.5m high, was inspired by a large triangular piece of wood that resembled a sail

View my website http://www.fhwestaway.com/

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Website: http://www.fhwestaway.com/

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