About woodcarvers Emyr and Dafydd Hughes

Father and son Emyr and Dafydd Hughes have over 40 years of experience in their craft.

Emyr Hughes

Master Carver Emyr Hughes started to learn his craft at the City and Guilds of London Art School where, from 1981-83, he was taught by the late Arthur Ayres, one of the finest exponents of traditional woodcarving techniques of the past centuries. Early success as winner of 1st and 2nd prizes for love-spoon carving at the National Eisteddfod at Machynlleth in 1981 stoked Emyr's passion for wood carving. Between 1983-1986, Emyr was employed by a Master Carver before joining a group of two stone carvers and one other wood carver in a workshop in Kings Cross, London in 1986. In 1989, Emyr moved to Gloucestershire and set up his own workshop in Staunton.
The fire at Windsor Castle in 1992, brought the opportunity for Emyr to contribute to the restoration, following approval of his work by HRH The Prince of Wales. As a result of his carvings for that commission, Emyr was proud to be nominated by his peers to become a member of the Association of Master Carvers. Emyr has since continued to enjoy the challenges of creating individual and unique carvings to fill clients' specific requests.

Dafydd Hughes

Dafydd Hughes began his apprenticeship under his father in 1993 determined to learn and maintain the traditional hand carving methods established by Emyr. Dafydd takes pride in practising a wide variety of traditional methods, techniques and styles in various types of wood.
Dafydd has recently established a workshop at Aberavon, near Swansea in South Wales, which he shares with a wood-turner, David Thomas. This continues the traditional symbiosis of carvers and wood-turners who often share work-space so that they can dovetail together to create pieces of work.
Dafydd is proud to carry on the ancient tradition of woodcarving and particularly enjoys carving in Rococo, Neo-Classical and Regency styles, taking great inspiration from past masters such as Thomas Chippendale, Robert Adam and William Kent.