Jim Partridge, born in Leeds studied at the John Makepeace School for Craftsmen in Wood (1977-79) then became a Fellow in Wood, Alsager College of Higher Education (1983-4). He was the first Craftsman in Residence at Grizedale Forest, Cumbria (1986-7) and then in 1988 established partnership with Liz Walmsley to work on site-specific projects and some larger pieces of furniture. The pair have been developing the craft of wood carving over the last 30 years. They uses unseasoned green timber, chain saws and blow torches to create his highly distinctive sculptural and tactile work. Their particular trademark is the scorching and waxing of wood, which emphasises the texture of the grain. Since 1986 the couple have worked together designing and making furniture, with the exception of the vessels which remain solely Jim's domain. They both live and work together in Oswestry, in Shropshire near the Welsh border.
Public Collections include: The Crafts Council; Contemporary Arts Society; The Victoria & Albert Museum; Manchester Art Gallery; The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge; The British Council; Kyoto Museum of Modern Art, Japan; Boston Museum of Fine Art, USA.
Public projects include work for: Grizedale Forest, Common Ground; The Quay Arts Centre, Isle of Wight; The Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal; Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford; The Welcome Trust; Sustrans, "Qube" gallery, Oswestry; Compton Verney Arts Trust; Edinburgh Botanic Gardens; Ruthin Craft Centre and RHS Wisley.
Jim was shortlisted for the LOEWE Craft Prize 2019.
Scorched oak. 45cm wide
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