I have been creative all my life. I was involved in the restaurant business in one capacity or another most of my life until I began having serious back problems.  This finally caused me to leave the business I truly loved. I had built and opened my first restaurant at age 21 and had two others by the end of my career. One of my many highlights happened in my last venture. Esquire magazine reviewed my restaurant in the New Orleans French Quarter. They were so impressed that they said that my restaurant was "the only place to eat blackened redfish in New Orleans!" What an honor!

Shortly after my forced "retirement" I was diagnosed with a rare neurological disease that left me totally debilitated. Although taking almost 13 years I have made a remarkable recovery. When I’m in my shop I think that is the best therapy for me and that things don't seem as bad while I’m working.

The only way I am able to do turning was by figuring a way to work at my lathe while seated. It's not very comfortable and while this is not the usual procedure it enables me to spend more time creating works of art. I use to work on a 25 year old lathe I purchased years ago just because it was a good deal, not knowing I would one day be using it full time in my business, that was until I purchased a new mini-lathe,  and  recently a new full size lathe. Watch for some supersize pieces coming soon. My old lathe has moved on to someone I know will give it a good home.

I have a shop full of wood that I started collecting in 2002 and have recovered wood from trees and buildings Katrina damaged. I am doing what I can to utilize urban forestry wood as well as recycling wood from the construction and demolition industry.

I am determined to devote the time I have working in my shop to make the finest works I can and to be a well respected (and collected) artist. I want my customers to be very happy with their purchases and to cherish the form as well as the beauty of the wood I choose for each piece. People in every state and seven foreign countries own art that I created; those are the places that I know about.

 As you peruse this site you can see that many of the items are already sold.  And just to let you know where my work is heading, I just started turning in august 2006, and am self taught! Keep an eye on what comes out of this "Celtic Woodshop" and watch for when my new designs and innovations I am working on now make it to these pages. I can do commissions and will work with you on designs and wood selections. If you have a tree with special meaning that has been cut down or will be soon I can make something that will allow you to keep those sentiments with you. Contact me for cutting and storage instructions as soon as possible.  Even if the tree is down since the hurricane it may still be salvageable and I may be able to make part of it into a beautiful bowl, lidded box, a vase, or....???

I can be emailed at celticwoodshop AT hotmail DOT com or call me at 504.913.1313