About
Robert Grieves is a wood sculptor based in London, showcasing the beauty of the natural woods he sources from the areas he lives.
After 25 years as a digital designer, Robert leaped in the opposite direction and became a wood sculptor. Starting in Sydney, he fell in love with Australian hardwoods, whose toughness required using every power tool he could find.
After two years of pure experimentation, Robert then enjoyed a flurry of accolades from a series of exhibitions and commissions around Sydney.
Returning home in 2024, he was awarded an arts residency at Orleans House Gallery (Londonâs only contemporary gallery with its own woodland). There he experimented with every local wood he could find, and in the process, immediately fell in love with English timber.
Sculpting softer wood opened up new opportunities, letting him leave power tools behind, exchanging for the traditions of hand tools. Now he could work directly in the woods, while also talking with gallery visitors as he carved, opening up whole new levels of engagement.
Robertâs background in design leads him to sculpt simple modernist forms. Taking a âmaterials firstâ ethos, the quirks of the specific wood often lead the process. By carving waste wood from his neighbourhood, Robertâs materials are Londonâs very own trees. Furthermore, he chooses to work with underappreciated examples, like London Plane and Yew, wood that holds as much beauty as it does the meaning.
In 2025, Robert will continue working from various woodlands across London, creating both sculptural and functional forms. From kinetic sculptures to candlestick holders. With a mission to absorb more traditional knowledge, while striving to make bold original forms. Using heritage craft to create contemporary work.
