Future Makers 2024 winner of the Sustainable Design Award, Martin Ryan, is a woodturner based in Co. Tipperary. After completing a woodturning course several years ago, he honed his unique designs, skills, and techniques. Today, he specialises in segmented woodturning and has received awards from the Irish Woodturners’ Guild for his work.
Segmented woodturning is the process of joining different coloured woods at various angles and sizes to form a variety of patterns and designs on the finished product. The amount of segments in any one piece can vary from 100 to over 1000 depending on the size and design. From design to completion some pieces may take several months. They are then buffed to a very high lustre and polished to a fine sheen. I never varnish or lacquer my work. Any product I complete can be rebuffed or repolished at any time. I mostly use Irish hardwoods. If a piece needs variety and colour I use African and South American hardwoods. This often includes the use of African blackwood and South American purple heart. All designs can be seen from both the inside and outside of the piece.
All pieces are once-off and unique. My inspiration comes from Greek, Native American and Arabic cultures. Mostly I work from the design in ‘my mind’s eye’. Sometimes I draw a rough sketch to assess the height, width and proportion of a piece in order to achieve proper balance and flow.
All my pieces are designed and handcrafted in my workshop in Clonboo, a rural locality in County Tipperary known for its quiet countryside ambiance and close-knit community.
Start with a simple design and work your way up. If you start with a complex design and it doesn't work out it can be very demotivating.
Martin Ryan
What other maker in your discipline do you most look up to?
Malcolm Tibbetts
How do you start your day?
A cup of coffee, check my emails, recapping back on previous designs and checking what was set up the evening before is up to standard.
Biography of Wernher von Braun
Air Force One
Steak and chips
