
Our Story
Mathew is a proud father, husband, and a true Lincolnshire Yellow Belly. His passion for woodturning was first sparked during secondary school. Although academia didn’t come easily to him, Mathew’s talent for working with his hands and his strong work ethic set him apart.
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Life didn’t offer many opportunities to nurture his craft until 2009, when we purchased our current home, a dilapidated farmhouse with an old barn. While the house still waits for its makeover, the barn was quickly transformed into a fully functional workshop, giving Mathew the space to rekindle his love for woodturning. Over time, he upgraded his lathe and tools, sharpening his skills as both a designer and a maker.
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Encouraged by friends and family who admired the quality of his work, we started selling Mathew’s creations at our village show. Today, we proudly exhibit at a variety of beautiful, historic, and inspiring venues across the country. Our five children are among our biggest supporters, though they’re also our toughest critics!
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In 2015, following Mathew’s redundancy, we took a leap of faith and created Why Not Wood. This journey has been full of ups and downs, but it has allowed Mathew to grow and evolve as an artisan. His self-taught background frees him from conventional constraints, letting his imagination lead the way. Yet, as a self-confessed perfectionist, many pieces never make it to public view and instead find a home in the wood basket by our fireplace.
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The integrity of Mathew’s work is at the heart of everything we do. By combining his natural talent with years of experiential learning, he crafts each piece with care, passion, and a commitment to quality.