WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING...
Below, keep up to date with all my recent shows, commissions, and projects. You can also find all of this and more on my Facebook page!
Canada, Can You Believe It!?
It is hard to believe that at the beginning of the year, one of my main goals was to carve internationally, and I have already been lucky enough to fly all the way to Canada to compete. Just to start, I would like to say how honoured I am to be part of the carving community. Internationally, everyone is so kind and supportive, and I would not have made it through the four and a half days at Powell River without my fellow carvers.
Flying to Canada meant I could not take any chainsaws and very few tools with me. I am very grateful to Thunder Bay Saw Shop for loaning me some saws as well as to my fellow carvers Dave and Benji for also lending me saws. Also thankful to Colin, who lent me numerous tools and safety gear for my daughter, Malibu, who was chief sander on this piece. Whilst I am doing thank yous, I should also mention my gratitude to Laura for inviting me and to Michelle and Barry for looking after us so well during our time in Powell River.
Before the competition, we spent five days exploring Vancouver. I was in awe of the beautiful landscapes that surrounded the city. We took a cycle around Stanley Park, a kayak in Deep Cove, where we saw seals and sea stars, and a walk in Lynn Valley - it was all truly beautiful. These days were mostly for acclimatisation, and I am so glad we took the time to adjust before the competition, as the four-and-a-half-day carve was gruelling.
Our flight to Powell River took no more than thirty minutes. It was a tiny twelve-seater plane which we were not expecting! The view from the window was exceptional, but unfortunately no whales were spotted. Michelle and Barry picked us up from the airport and took us sightseeing. We saw several carvings from previous years at the competition as well as some totem poles. Again, no whales and no bears, but we did see some eagles and eaglets, much to our delight.
I woke up the next day, inspired by my surroundings, and headed down to the competition site with my sketchbook to finalise my design. That evening, I was very lucky to get third pick in the log draw, which meant I got the exact log I wanted. Nice and wide and not too tall! Safe to say I was very excited and nervous by this point, and I struggled to sleep that night!
To say the carve went smoothly would be a complete lie. Working with tools foreign to me held me up on multiple occasions, and I found the first day incredibly frustrating. The wood was very soft, and it was too easy to make overcuts. I was feeling quite disheartened when the whistle blew to close the day, but after dinner with some of my fellow carvers, my spirits were lifted a little, and I was ready to face the next day.
Going into the competition having never had so many days to carve, I thought I would have so much time on my hands, but the size of the wood and the difficulty with tools meant that time was flying by. On the third day, Malibu jumped in to start sanding, and it was by the end of this day that I remembered why I don’t usually do such smooth pieces in competitions. Despite this, I felt very positive going into Saturday and was very pleased when Sunday morning rolled around, and we had just enough time to get the piece as polished as we could.
I was not 100% happy with the final product, and there were definitely things I would have done differently, but the experience alone was more than worth it. I have learnt so much from this competition, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity. I was honoured to meet more carvers, including those I had been following for a while and was a little starstruck by! I have come home very much inspired and looking forward to my next big carve.
Plus, we did see some whales on our final day in Powell River, hooray!
JULY 2026
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English Open 2026
I have wanted to share my thoughts on the English Open since the moment I left Sandringham Estate, but I have been non-stop ever since, so my apologies for the delay!
The English Open is one of the most exciting events in my calendar. It is not only a chance to carve for three days with complete artistic freedom, but also an opportunity to spend time with my peers. This event hosts carvers from all over the world, and following my experience carving in Lithuania, their generosity and hospitality, I offered to aid one of the Open’s international carvers for the first time. I picked up Christian from the airport and showed him my home town, Ely, and the yard where I work. Christian is from Chile, so he speaks Spanish, and I do not so there was, at times, a slight language barrier. But that has since inspired me to begin learning Spanish on Duolingo, which, everyone will be pleased to know, I am slightly better at than when I was learning French!
The preparation for the event begins well ahead of time when I start considering designs for my pieces and planning what I will need. I am lucky that Sandringham is fairly local to me, so I am able to use my horse box, meaning I have basically everything but the kitchen sink at my disposal. I like to get to the show early to give myself time to catch up with my fellow carvers. This year, for the first time in all of my years competing at this event, we visited the Sandringham Estate house and gardens. The sun was shining; it was the perfect way to kick off the event.
My design this year was three flying ducks, which, considering I have never carved a duck before, I am not sure what possessed me. I didn’t even practice! The real challenge was trying to keep the piece strong. I had to adapt the base and not hollow out the piece as much as I wanted to keep it stable. The great thing about this event is that, at the end of the day, all of the carvers get together to discuss their pieces and offer support and tips on how to improve.
As always, the speed carves were a highlight. I love the challenge, and I am known to work better under pressure. I was less creative this year. The more speed carves I participate in, the harder it is to come up with unique designs.
One of the best things about competitions is seeing everyone’s creativity and diversity in style. It is always a challenge to predict who will place first as art is so subjective. Despite it being a competition, everyone is rooting for each other.
Until next year! Well done, everyone!
JUNE 2026
My First International Competition!
Back when I started carving, almost 10 years ago now, I said some crazy goals to my husband, Ben. One of those goals was to compete at the English Open held at the Sandringham Estate each year, which I managed to achieve after 5 years of carving. Another of those goals was to compete in an international competition abroad.
In January, Raimondas put out an ad inviting carvers to apply for the Steel Beavers competition in Lithuania. I had been following the competition for 2 years as my fellow carver, Jonny Chainsaw, had competed there previously. I had also met Raimondas and his son at several events in the UK, so I felt comfortable flying across countries to compete. After checking the dates, I realised I was available to compete. It did mean leaving my husband, Linocut Horror, to do his biggest show, Horror Con, alone. Fortunately, we both had successful and exciting weekends.
When I was accepted, I was surprised and overwhelmed. I phoned Ben and my Dad straightaway. I did not know then, but I would be the first woman to compete in this competition. Following the initial excitement came the nerves. I am very lucky to have such a lovely community of carvers who gave me pointers for planning and packing. Things that I would not have considered, such as taking a good adapter for power tools, bars and chains, safety clothing, a spanner, and a paint brush. Everyone was so supportive. Once I knew what to take, the battle with the baggage weight restriction began. I then found out some excellent news that my fellow carver Para, from Ireland, would also be competing, so we were able to share some tools, which solved the weight problem.
It was my first time flying solo, but luckily everything went very smoothly. Very kindly, Raimondas was waiting for me at the airport with some other friendly carvers. I knew, instantly, that I would have a great time.
The homestead we stayed at was adorable, and, being the only female, I got a room to myself. We all dined together, which was a great way to get to know each other. The main house had a sauna, a lake to swim in and a huge table to gather around. I tried some strange alcohol around that table!
Now for the competition, the log draw took place on Wednesday. I drew number 17. I like pulling a later number as there is less to choose from. I had a design in mind which had to be adapted slightly to accommodate the wood I received. In the original design, I wanted the piece’s hair to flow around the body, but this log was too narrow, so I altered the hair to flow upwards. Being an international carver, we were lent saws to which we applied our own bars and chains. I mostly used the same saw with 2 different bars during the entire carve. Para also lent me his 6-inch carving bar, which was a dream.
The first day of the competition was hard. Everyone got stuck into getting the blocking out complete. The second day was open to the public, which meant there was a break from our competition pieces to compete in an hour-long speed carve at midday. I went with my two owls on a love heart design, which should have been easy, but I found it a little challenging with unfamiliar tools. By the end of the day, I was happy with where my competition had gotten to, and I knew I would be able to finish the piece in time. This was a long day, and I was pleased to see the sauna when we got back to the house.
I felt calm going into the third day. I got a lot of tips from the other carvers regarding the face on my piece. Faces are a skill I have been developing over the last year, and I am proud of how far I have come. I stayed true to the free-flowing style I wanted and the slightly rough finish I like. Looking around, there were some amazing carvings; all of them were so different. At this point, I was starting to feel the fatigue setting in, so I took a break from my piece to chat with the other carvers. It is so interesting to talk to everyone about their processes and their carving lives. Before the day ended, I did the burn and added some colour. I felt happy that all I had to do in the morning was to oil the piece.
The final day began, and I started to worry that my piece would not sell as it was an unfamiliar design to me. I was happy with the piece, but you never know how they will be received by the public. For this day’s speed carve, I did something completely different to usual and carved a children’s chair with two owls and a moon. This was extremely well received, which boosted my confidence in my main piece.
Once the carving time was over, there was a buzz in the air. The judging was fun as we got to pick the carver’s choice award. It is always hard to choose, as there were so many amazing pieces. I followed the entire auction as it is so interesting to see which piece is received and to speak to my fellow carvers without the pressure of the carve looming. I was very happy with how my piece was received, and I got some lovely feedback from everyone. After such a high, we all had an early night.
On the final day of my Lithuania trip, Raimondas took us sightseeing as we were in his home town. The views were amazing, and I wish I had a few more days to discover the country. The Lithuanian countryside reminded me of my home in the Fens, as they are both very flat and beautiful. I am certain I will visit again despite eating Beaver for lunch!
The overall experience was incredible. I am so grateful to Raimondas and his son, the other carvers and the homestead owners for making it such a wonderful experience. Huge thank you as well to the sponsors who provided oil, fuel, t-shirts, hats, drinks and the best Stihl coat. The carving community around the world is lovely and friendly. I am honoured to be a part of it. I feel as though I have found my people.
APRIL 2026
My 2026 Goals
2025 was such a huge year for me, my business and my craft. After achieving so much, it was hard to decide on goals for 2026. Dream too big and face a potentially impossible task, but dream too small and get bored. Obviously, those of you who know me know I am all for big dreams. Therefore, a main goal of mine this year is to compete in an international carving competition abroad.
Since setting this goal, I have booked the Steel Beavers International Chainsaw Carving Competition in Lithuania! The competition runs from the 25th to the 28th March 2026. I am nervous but so excited. It will be good for me to be pushed outside of my comfort zone, and hopefully, this experience will be a gateway to many more international carving opportunities. The goal is not officially ticked off until I have completed the carve, but what a great way to begin the year.
Another highlight of this year so far is that I had the pleasure of carving for a descendant of Tolkien! This is just one of many beautiful and special commissions I have completed already this year. An additional goal of mine is to be financially stable - boring but realistic. Site jobs and commissions are my only source of income over the winter months, as there are no shows or competitions, so I am always grateful for these opportunities.
I would like to travel more of the country through carving and add more shows to my roster. There are several shows I have had the honour of carving at for multiple years in a row, which I plan to continue to do. I have also had the opportunity to appear at some Outdoor Shows events this upcoming year. I am looking forward to meeting some new people and exploring new places.
In terms of my work specifically, this year I would like to continue to refine and explore Steampunk as a theme. Many of my favourite carvings this year have been in this style. The Steampunk Fox is becoming a recurring feature in my stock for shows. I want my work to remain creative and fun even though it has become my full-time job.
If 2026 is even half as successful as 2025, I will be happy, but let’s hope for bigger and better!
FEBRUARY 2026
My 2025 Highlights
2025 was a huge year for Cambridge Chainsaw Carving. I am so proud of all that I achieved. The biggest thing of the year was going full-time as a chainsaw carver. I am incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to and even more lucky to have had such a successful first year (nearly). Though I may not be richer in cash, I am certainly richer in happiness.
I had another wonderful year carving alongside many, many other great carvers. It was so special to kick off the show circuit last year with my fellow Chainsaw Dragons at the Coed Conwy Festival in Wales. It was even more special to be invited to compete in the English Open. This was my first year to be selected without having been picked from the reserves list. I felt like I had earned my place there and then proved I deserved it by finishing my piece on time, whilst partaking in every speed carve. Speaking of speed carves I got my all-time best price for a piece at the Cheshire Game & Country Fair. I really enjoy speed carves as they challenge my imagination so it really is just the cherry on top when they sell well too.
Another show that really stood out to me this year was the Neath Steam & Vintage Show. This one is particularly special as there is no other steam show like it and it is my dad’s personal favourite. I also got to do some shows alongside Ben from Hudson TImber which is always a pleasure. Namely, the Ely Cathedral Garden Show. It was a wonderfully hot day; I really got to work on my tan, and it was lovely to present my work so locally. On the opposite end of the country, I also competed in the Scottish Open at Carve Carrbridge. I was joined by my husband and daughter. We all bunked up in my van together. The atmosphere was magical, and the ceilidh is always so fun. I was joined by my husband at the St Ives Christmas Cracker, where he sold his linoprints. It was fun to have some healthy competition.
My biggest career highlight of 2025 was appearing on ITV News East Anglia for my angel in the cemetery in Yaxley. Though the speculation of the angel’s arrival by the local community was a little absurd, I was grateful it landed me a spot on television. It was a pleasure to show off my work to the entire region. This was one of my favourite commissions of the year, only topped by my very first of 2025, which was an owl flying over some reeds with a hare. I felt I had outdone myself, especially as I was still working part-time at this point.
Throughout the year, I continued to explore a steampunk theme across my work. I had tried a few steampunk foxes in 2024, and then in 202,5 I expanded this and explored other animals. My favourite carve was still the steampunk fox. This is definitely a style I will continue to explore in 2026. I was also very proud of my Peter Rabbit carvings from Easter 2025. I liked carving a character rather than just an animal.
I was very honoured to work on some special carvings celebrating birthdays and anniversaries for beloved, returning customers. It has been an absolute pleasure to meet some of you at my shows as well. I cannot wait to meet more of you in 2026. Last year was huge for my business, and I am so thankful for your support.
JANUARY 2026
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