BIOGRAPHY
Luke Chapman is a British artist and designer, based in North Norfolk. His work includes both hand-carved fine art pieces and larger chainsaw sculptures.
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After completing A Levels in Design, Luke attended The Norfolk Institute of Art and Design in 1994 and completed an HND in 3D studies (design). During a college visit to 'The Victoria and Albert Museum' in London, Luke chanced upon some wood carving that would eventually come to change his life. A glimpse through a half-opened door in the museum, and an off-piste exploration of the carvings inside the room, allowed him the discovery of Grinling Gibbons: An extraordinary 16th-century wood carver whose pieces are revered and celebrated to this day. Luke continues to return to and be inspired by Gibbons’s work.
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Also during his time at art college, Luke made various musical instruments (including a guitar he still uses) and many other art pieces, becoming ever more interested in wood and sculpture with natural materials.
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Upon leaving college, Luke worked as an art therapist for adults with severe learning difficulties. While thoroughly inspiring and rewarding work, the restrictions within the care system at this time made therapy a difficult career to maintain and so in 1998, Luke became a fine cabinet maker.
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Luke excelled at carving all manner of furniture styles, including Italian Renaissance, Chippendale, and early English. He produced highly sought-after replica pieces that sold internationally, for both private and public spaces.
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During his time a cabinet maker, Luke also began refining his own style of carving and took on various private commission works, including hand-carved memorial pieces for woodland burial grounds across the UK. Before long, these memorial pieces became the foundation of the work he undertakes to this day.
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Luke's first large public art commission was a wildlife installation at RSPB Minsmere Nature Reserve in Suffolk, UK. This included giant chainsaw-carved wildlife sculptures raised on pillars and arranged in the form of a year clock, as well as some of his own design (and now highly sought after!) ‘Skywatcher’ seats.
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Luke continues to do a mix of chainsaw carving and fine art hand-carving work, for both private customers and large commission works in all manner of public spaces and wildlife reserves. In 2019 Luke competed and exhibited in the renowned international chainsaw art event, ‘Skulptur Rabatz’, showcasing alongside the very best chainsaw artists in the world.
Luke draws much of his inspiration from his beautiful surroundings. Based in the very rural North Norfolk countryside (and also being an avid cyclist), he feels fortunate to be able to witness all manner of wildlife daily. One of his greatest inspirations is the majestic Red Kite. Their movements and the forms they create as they fly translate into the fluidity of his cuts in the wood and the sculptures he creates.
