About me

Embracing the imperfections of wood defines my practice as a London-based wood artist, curator and public speaker. I'm Darren Appiagyei, and when I work with wood, highlighting its different textures, tones and details feels like uncovering its hidden potential.

I discovered woodturning by accident during my 3D design degree at UAL (2016). When I first used the lathe, the process of creation felt natural to me. Though I didn't know what I was doing, the turning wood was almost meditative. I continued on the lathe, teaching myself by doing—that's always been my way of learning.

Since my degree, I've been based at Cockpit Arts where I received the Turners Award (2017) which allowed me to develop my practice.

You might know me for my Banksia Nuts, which have helped me gain recognition over the past couple of years. I first found them in a Peckham timber shop, although they actually grow wild in Australia. As sustainability has become increasingly important to me, I've committed myself to using locally sourced materials—I even use public transport to collect my wood. Despite the success and demand for my Banksia creations, I've stopped working with imported materials, focusing instead on locally felled wood.