Shropshire's 'chainsaw bloke' carves career in art

His artwork, however, is created not with a paintbrush and an easel – but with a chainsaw and a lump of wood.

The 32-year-old, from Much Wenlock, has produced some stunning sculptures over the years including castles, angel wings, owls and squirrels.

So much so that enthusiasts are now commissioning him to bring to life their pieces of wood, from tree stumps to fallen branches.

A straight-A art student and former doorman, Joffrey is also a town councillor in Much Wenlock.

He says he was always destined to do something artistic, it's in his blood. "I am from an arty family," he says.

His mother Jenny Carrington, is a Royal Academy trained artist.

His sister is also an artist while his brother is a director for the BBC's children's channel CBeebies.

They all gained straight-As in art, too, says Joffrey, who adds: "I did think about becoming a tattoo artist but that meant sitting down for too long!"

He says he prefers the outdoors, nature, trees.

"I left school with reasonable qualifications and went on to higher education and didn't really like it," he said.

"I fancied doing tree surgery or something along those lines.

"I was given a placement at Benbow Brothers tree surgeons at Lee Brockhurst at 17, and that is where I have been ever since."

So when did he decide to branch out into tree sculpture?

"Every tree surgeon has a go at making something with a chainsaw so I think the first thing I made was little stool, then a mushroom," he says.

A few years later he was approached by a primary school to create a sculpture from a fallen tree which had split in two.

"They asked if I could make anything. I manage to carve a squirrel sat on a giant acorn.

"After another couple of years, I carved something again. It was more elaborate. This time an owl with a squirrel running up the side.

"After that I thought I should doing it a bit more often and that is how it progressed."

He says that he has many people ask him how they can go about learning how to carve with a chainsaw.

Attempting to give an insight to the creative process he says: "There really is no learning. You can either do it or you can't.

"Before I start, I draw the design in my head and then go and make a few cuts and step back. Then I go from there."

The only special piece of equipment he uses is a chainsaw with a special carving point on it.

"The hardest thing I have ever carved was an old man next to a dog and the old man was holding a walking stick which was carved as well.

"That took me about two and a half days to create," says Joffrey.

As part of his "day" job, Joffrey also looks after the trees at Shropshire's Hawkstone Park Follies beauty spot, near Whitchurch. He has managed to wow its thousands of visitors with his impressive carvings which scatter the parkland.

So much so he will be a regular feature there next year, doing demonstrations with his chainsaw.

Caroline Wellon, park manager at Hawkstone Park Follies, said: "It is really exciting to be working in partnership with Joffrey at here at the Follies."

For more information contact Joffrey at www.thechainsawbloke.co.uk