ABOUT
WILLIAM BARSLEY
'In a world of mass production and ever-advancing technologies, we strive to produce exceptional, handmade carvings using traditional methods and honest values.' William Barsley 2019
Fascinated by historic crafts from a young age, whittling small gifts for family and friends, I started exploring woodcarving more seriously in 2009. Over the next few years my passion continued to grow and, in 2013, I took a leap of faith and left his 9-5 office job working for the United Nations in Rome to travel the globe in search of master woodcarvers, documenting his journey along the way. My aim was to echo craftsmen of the past who would travel great distances in search of new skills. After six months, eleven countries, and having met hundreds of craftsmen, I realised I knew more about the carving techniques of most Asian countries than my own countries. Eager to learn about the UK's carving heritage and hone my own skills, I enrolled on one of the best woodcarving courses in Europe, completing a three-year diploma in Ornamental Woodcarving and Gilding at the City and Guilds of London Art School.
Since graduating, i've completed a wide range of commissions for private individuals as well as for prestigious institutes, such as the Royal College of Arms and the Palace of Westminster. Whatever the project, I strive for the highest quality in everything I do.
NOTABLE EXPERIENCE
QUEEN'S CHAPEL
Proud to have worked with Holy Well Glass in 2018 to produce a door handle master copy for the Queen's private chapel at Windsor Castle.ROALD DAHL
In this fun project, I carved the crest of Roald Dahl's grandson's new family coat of arms, featuring the Roly Poly bird from the much loved books.VENICE EXHIBITION
In 2018, I participated in Homo Faber, an international exhibition in Venice organised by the Michelangelo Foundation.WW1 MEMORIAL
Commissioned to carve a memorial plaque for the WW1 centenary, in honour of the famous war poet Siegfried Sassoon my home village.CARVING COUNTRIES
In 2014, I began a journey to meet and interview woodcarvers in different parts of the world, documenting their stories through CarvingCountries.com with the aim of inspiring and sharing with others this incredible and globally diverse craft. To date, i've travelled through eleven countries, meeting hundreds of craftspeople, from the islands of Indonesia to the foothills of the Himalayas. These videos give a glimpse into the journey.
AWARDS & QUALIFICATIONS
CARVING DIPLOMA
Diploma in Ornamental Woodcarving and Gilding from the City and Guilds of London Art School.CARVING PRIZE
Awarded the 2018 Prize for Carving from the Master Carvers' Association.JOURNEYMAN
Awarded a Journeyman Carver Certificate by Livery Companies SkillsCouncil.
FREEMAN
Made a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Joiners and Ceilers.COLLABORATORS
I'm always keen to find new companies that share our core values and dedication to quality craftsmanship. If you're interested in collaborating on a project, I would love to hear from you.
Over the years, i've been fortunate to have had the opportunity to collaborate with a myriad of highly skilled professionals within the craft and construction industries. Some of these include:
Worshipful Company of Joiners & Ceilers
AFFILIATIONS
I'm proud to affiliate with a range of fantastic institutions within the crafts industry. Some of these include:
DOUGLAS KNIGHT
DISCUSS A COMMISSION
Do you have a project you'd like to discuss, or just want to find out more about our services? Get in touch! I would love to hear from you. Either fill in the contact form to the right, or use the contact details below:
Email: info@williambarsley.com
Phone: +44(0)7979152538
© William Barsley 2019