I took up woodturning in 2008 after 'semi-retiring' from my own business which involved helping Inventors to manage, develop and commercialise their inventions. Prior to that I served in the Royal Navy as a Weapon Engineer for thirty three years, having joined as an Artificer Apprentice in 1961 and left as a Lieutenant Commander in 1994. 
The engineering skills I learnt as an artificer are very useful in my woodturning workshop, and a latent artistic urge means that woodturning gives me a great deal of satisfaction and a little bit of pocket money.
I enjoy turning items that are a little bit different and show particular features of the piece of wood being worked on. Cracks, holes and fungus marks (spalting) all add to the unique character of the finished article and give some indication of the history of the tree and the stresses and strains it has experienced during its growth. Often a piece of wood will sit in my workshop for weeks, or months, whilst I think about the best way to work it to and to show off the features and markings to best advantage.
I am happy to take commissions to work a piece of wood that may have sentimental value to the owner, or often I can refurbish or enhance something that has already been worked. I recently made a wedding present of a large plant stand, some 30 inches high, made from a beautiful piece of English Yew, and a hat stand for a lawyer in The Hague from a 300 year old piece of English Oak.
I like making pens of wood and Acrylic, pepper grinders of various woods and bowls of many shapes and sizes.
Sycamore Woodturning Website:
http://sycamore-woodturning.weebly.com/