About Devon Moths by Andre Daniel
Boat builder turned artist I use a variety of British native woods from fallen trees for my work.
I love the whole process of creating each individual moth from sourcing the wood to examining the grain and then designing and carving a unique piece.
Every one is original and unique because no two pieces are ever the same. I look at every piece of wood and create something different. I don’t fell a tree to make a moth; it’s the little obscure pieces that I find that would otherwise not be used for anything else.
You can view my video which shows a moth being made, as featured on the BBC programme Escape to the Country.
Commissions
Recently the owners of privately owned estate in Devon commissioned their own pieces for the historic estate, which has been in the same family since the 17 Century. People have started bringing me their own trees that they want to remember. Old trees are like friends and when they fall, maybe through storm damage or disease, it means people can have a special memento of that tree. To discuss a one-off piece please contact me on my commissions page.
Exhibitions / Events
Please visit my exhibitions and events page for future events. I have regularly attended the Chelsea Flower Show, Bath & West Show and Delamore House on Dartmoor.
A bit about my history
Growing up in Hooe, in Plymouth, I spent much of my childhood around boats and eventually trained as a wooden boat builder. I then spent almost ten years crewing super yachts sailing to remote archipelagos at the whim of wealthy clients. In that time I barely set foot on dry land; I didn’t even own a pair of shoes. Finally I decided it was time to settle back on dry land and I moved to Scotland where I honed my craftsman’s skills in the shadow of the Glasgow Art scene.
Influenced by the wildness of the Highland, I made furniture, sometimes setting fossils and ammonites into the pieces.
After returning to live in Devon, a small patch of woodland became my inspiration as I became fascinated with the variety of moths I would see daily.
I share a small cottage in Yealmpton with kelpie Jasper and harris hawk Darwin, whose feathers, once moulted, are saved and whittled to create the delicate feathery antennae for the wooden moths.
