Throughout the 1970/80’s Les exhibited his work in a variety of single and group exhibitions, including a one man show at Zella Gallery in New Orleans, and group show Barbican London. Les worked in art education, culminating in 2011 when he retired from the post of Faculty Director for Creative Industries.
Since retirement Les has worked with a wide range of mediums and techniques. making sculptures and craft items, with the emphasis on using reclaimed timber and giving it a new lease of life. He also incorporates gold, copper and silver leaf and the Japanese technique of wood burning “shou sugi ban” which provides a rich black texture to the work. In addition, the bi-product of working with wood is sawdust, which he uses to fire ceramic work in a fire pit kiln with sawdust and locally sourced seaweed, the sea salt and mixture of woods provide a wide range of colour and texture.
Les’s desired outcome, is to create objects which are desirable in shape and form, but also pleasing to the touch. Having originally been discarded ‘wooded pallets on a building site’ they bring with them a variety of colour and surface texture, which cannot be found in sterile new wood.
His work is in collections in the UK, USA , Norway and recently exhibited at the Creates Gallery and Dorset Art Weeks.
