Gabriel River Clark is a young British Artist working
with wood from
his workshop
on the edge of
the Yorkshire Dales
and Cumbrian Hills.
Since coming to the public’s attention in 2022, when a bowl he turned raised over £250,000 for Save the Children’s Ukraine Appeal, his natural talent has drawn considerable attention.
Each of his creations is a unique work, the product of a young creative mind at the start of their journey as an artist.
Working intuitively, and responding to the timber itself, perfection is not Gabriel’s goal. Instead each piece is a journey of discovery, shaped by the passions, determination and the creative fervour of a young mind.
Using a broad range of different types of wood, from ash to cherry, and oak to walnut, all materials are locally and responsibly sourced from a variety of places around Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire. More recently Gabriel has begun to explore working with unseasoned timber sourced from fallen trees from a relative’s farm in Devon.
“I’m really drawn to using wood that’s been discarded, that no-one wants. It might be from a storm damaged tree or perhaps an off-cut from someone else’s project.”
Gabriel’s passion for working with his hands was clear from a young age. He would spend hours working at the hearth crafting gifts from balsa wood, but it was only when he got his first lathe at 10 yrs that his deep love of wood became apparent.
Drawn to the sense of history and life inherent in it, even before it finds it’s way into his hands, the relationship it invites is the reason he considers it such a unique and wonderful material.
Exploring a variety of techniques from charring to layering Gabriel continues to hone his craft and skills. He is increasingly focused on developing his own distinct language such that each piece he creates is instantly recognisable as crafted by his hand.
“I want my work to be simple and practical.
I want my pieces to be used but I like the idea that each is uniquely special, with its own history and story.”
