Roddy Moyes...

has been the Head Gardener at Tulchan Sporting Estate in the Scottish Highlands for the past twenty years. Born in 1955 in Stornaway on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides and having a strong affinity with the sea he spent many of his former years in the Merchant Navy and with the deep sea Trawling Fleet. His nautical career ended while he was serving as a Lighthouse Keeper on one of the last Lighthouses to be converted to automatic operation. It was on that Lighthouse that he first developed his passion for woodturning when he discovered a very old treadle lathe in the workshop. Since then his skill has developed, not only in woodturning but also in web development as this site demonstrates. As a result, his work has been added to collections as far away as Hong Kong.

Spalted Beech / Maple Burr

Spalted Beech

Walnut / Cocobolo / Pau Amarelo

Walnut

A large shallow bowl in Beech showing an area of slight spalting near the rim. It's form flows gracefully from the supporting foot turned from Maple Burr which in itself is simple in design, the beauty of the Burr being all that is needed

Beech 13.1/4” dia. x 4” tall. Inside depth 1.1/2"

This piece is a maelstrom of light and shade contained within the distinctive grain of the walnut. Around the rim, a single bead supports a series of grooves adding interest and texture.

American Walnut 7.3/4" dia. x 2.1/8" tall

Hollow Forms traditionally serve no purpose other than as an expression of form and design. The form in this case is globular, the slight spalting displays a mirror image of itself left and right of centre. Brass inlay decorates the intersection with the broad Maple Burr rim

Spalted Beech 6" dia. x 4.1/4" tall

This piece is truly a contrast of colours. The body of the box displays a myriad shade of light and dark browns the interior of which has vertical sides and is 3.1/2" in diameter by 1.1/8" deep, plenty of room for a few trinkets or favoured pieces of jewellery. The loose fitting lid in contrast displays a strata of colours from dark brown to orange indicative of this exotic timber. Finally, the tall handle of gleaming yellow Pau Amarelo crowns the three timbered box.

Walnut Box 5.3/4” dia x 4.1/4” tall.

The very dramatic figuring evident in this piece constantly catches the eye and ensures continued interest.

Spalted Maple 6.1/2" dia. x 2.1/4 tall.”

This piece was inspired by the flower of our national emblem the Scots Thistle and is now in a private collection in Hong Kong. Prior to polishing, several coats of Danish oil were applied to darken and enrich the burr.

Maple Burr 5.1/2” dia x 3.3/4 tall.”

A Hinged Box, the interior is a mere 1.1/2" deep and was designed to house a silver pocket watch.

Maple Burr 3.1/2”dia. x 6” tall.

Another Hinged Box, from a distinctly cream coloured burr.

Maple Burr 3.1/2” dia. x 4.1/4 tall”

A Bottle Form turned from local Spalted Birch. The spalting is very slight but the magnificent figuring is typical of our Birch here on Speyside.

Spalted Birch / African Walnut 2.3/4” dia. x 9” tall.

Another Bottle Form turned from a striking piece of local Spalted Birch which in this case also displays shades of purple which prompted the use of Purpleheart for the collar and rim sections

Spalted Birch / Purpleheart 3.1/2” dia. x 9” tall

A colourful and fun centrepiece using a stylised floral design

Timbers used starting with tallest: Purpleheart : Piquia Amarello :
African Walnut : Osage Orange : Muhuhu in the centre. Base Jarrah

7.3/4” dia. x 7” tall

A graceful goblet form turned from a flawless piece of Apple. The photograph does not do justice to the finish which is almost iridescent.

Apple 2” dia. x 5.3/4” tall