Valerie Pickerill Art in Wood

My name is Valerie, and I am an artist in wood, I make unique art pieces from native timber or reclaimed wood from discarded and/or damaged furniture. My love of wood came from my father, growing up in Wicklow town I spent my weekends watching him sawing, gluing, sanding, polishing or painting (lots of DIY), I would collect his offcuts and paint on them. On leaving school I decided to go into graphic design which felt like a natural fit for me. I worked for 33 years as a graphic designer and studio manager in advertising agencies and design studios, most of those years in Dublin. In 2004 I moved to my mother’s home county of Wexford, I had always felt drawn to Wexford. Living in New Ross and working in a lovely design studio in Kilkenny, recession hit in 2012 so I went back to college for a bit. A couple of years on and I had the opportunity to set up a studio/workshop in my home, now in Tacumshin in Co. Wexford, where I work with wood to make art pieces. I have always been creative