A Derbyshire man who thought “he’d have a go at wood carving” six months’ ago has flourished - and created a range of stunning wood pieces in the process.
Ben Yeates, from North East Derbyshire, began his carving journey in November 2023.
In just six months, the 42-year-old has learned the craft of carving and made beautiful pieces that are worthy of display.
He created a woodland-themed feature from a fallen tree in Whitwell, which is set to take up residence in the place where the original tree stood.
The self-taught hobbyist’s talent has seen him make a series of beautiful pieces.
One of the largest is a 9ft long owl memorial bench which took around 60 hours to complete.
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Other garden ornaments are 45 centimetre tall Highland Cows, and 40 centimetre tall owls that make charming chainsaw carvings. Speaking to DerbyWorld, Ben said: “I’ve always enjoyed woodwork as a hobby. I like watching loads of videos of log cabin-building and chainsaw carving. I enjoy trying different things, being unique and creative.
“So I just thought I'd have a go at wood carving - turns out I’m good at it. That’s all this is, it’s a hobby at the moment, but it could go further.
“I can’t let my mind stay still, I can spend hours doing jigsaws and activities carving wood. I have done a few carvings, each one takes me a couple of hours, although a recently finished memorial bench took longer.”
Ben does all the work from his Derbyshire home.
He said: “I work from my garage, backyard and little workshop. There are systems in place for lifting logs, so I have a small crane and winches too.”
The future is bright for Ben who is now busier than ever.
To see more of Ben’s incredible creations visit his Facebook page by clicking here.
1. Wooden fox and owl feature
Ben created this wooden fox and owl feature using a fallen tree that he spotted in Whitwell | Ben Yeates Photo: Ben Yeates
2. Owl memorial bench
This owl memorial bench took Ben approximately 60 hours to create | Ben Yeates Photo: Ben Yeates
3. Owl bench Ben Yeates
Detailing on the bench is striking, which was all hand-finished by Ben | Ben Yeates
4. Wooden hen
This is another of Ben's crafty creations which also includes paint detail | Ben Yeates Photo: Ben Yeates