Original Designs
Every piece created by Luke is an original design, however some are more personal than others. Here are a few of the more bespoke designs and larger projects that Luke has embarked on.
The pomeroy giants
a huge art installation set in the pomeroy forest, Northern ireland
In the winter of 2023, Luke was commissioned to design and create two massive sculptures depicting fairy tale giants, as part of a fairy tale trail through Pomeroy Forest Park. Sculptures to this scale and detail have never before been carved by hand by a single artist, and it was a huge undertaking.
As the giants were part of a public installation, not only did they have to be visually impressive, but also safe and able to withstand weather and an interactive audience.
The standing giant is approximately 20' tall, made entirely from redwood - the only wood large enough for such structures! Both giants were carved in segments and then constructed for finishing. They were deconstructed for transport and re-built when in situ.
The seated, sleeping giant.
Work in progress - The huge feet of the giants during the carving process.
The giants had to be constructed and de-constructed many times during carving to ensure that all pieces fitted together seamlessly, had the correct proportions, and were easily and safely assembled in their final positions in Pomeroy.
The torsos of both giants during the carving process
Standing giant in situ in the Pomeroy Forest Park.
The following video is drone footage of the final stages of the carve, showing the sheer size of the fully constructed giants.
(Accompanying music by Luke Chapman)
Skywatcher Seats
sculptured seating, erganomically designed for comfort.
An original design created by Luke that draws on his origins as a furniture designer as well as his experience working alongside a Yoga master. These seats are ergonomically designed to encourage an incredibly comfortable and relaxing reflection on the skies above. Truly stunning art pieces - hugely inspired by the vast Norfolk skies and their plethora of birdlife - the Skywatcher seat can be found in many places across the UK and mainland Europe. Carved with a chainsaw from a single piece of Wellingtonia redwood (Sequoiadendron giganteum), Luke produces these bespoke seats for both private customers and public areas, including wildlife reserves, sculpture trails, and parks.
Freshly oiled Skywatcher seats in the workshop. The environmentally friendly, water-based oils used on all of Luke's sculptures, preserve and protect the pieces for years to come (NB occasional repeat application recommended, especially for outdoor works). The oil accentuates the beautiful colour and grain of the redwood timber.
A pair of Skywatchers as part of the silver winning garden at The Sandringham Flower Show.
Skywatchers in situ at one of the many countrywide nature reserves they have been installed in. (This one being the Sandy RSPB Nature Reserve in Bedfordshire.)
Work in progress. Luke carves all the seats from a single piece of wood, using a selection of large chainsaws.
A pair of Skywatchers on the marshes at Southwold, Suffolk. These were installed as part of a much larger commission, showcasing Southwold's history and wildlife.
Skywatchers before oiling, showing the natural hue of the Wellingtonia wood.
The Chester zoo Pangolin project
An important conservation project, highlighting the plight of the giant pangolin
At the beginning of 2025, Luke was honoured to be involved in an incredible conservation project, headed by the UK's Chester Zoo. The carving is a life-sized Giant Pangolin, with measurements taken from a specific wild male Pangolin who the research team had been studying.
The finished Giant Pangolin, in situ at Chester Zoo.
A close up of the face on the pangolin.
Work in progress. All the scales were individually carved to very specific measurements and layout - staying as true as possible to the 'model' who is a real-life, wild, male Giant Pangolin.
Luke used a variety of tools on this piece, including this battery powered carving chainsaw.
