Jim Partridge and Liz Walmsley

Jim Partridge and Liz Walmsley are Britain's most renowned artists working in wood; they sculpts oak wood pieces that are rustic and organic in nature, giving them a strong, dramatic aesthetic and an honest beauty. Almost primitive in their design, these works remind us of old Arcadian vessels which have become non-functional with age, and which are now objects to be visually appreciated for their simple grace. Indeed, it is not only the medium of wood, but also the aesthetic and tactility of the objects that speak of the natural world. Furthermore, that same minimalist aesthetic bestows the objects with an unmistakably contemporary look. Through his fine balance of material, aesthetic, texture and design the artists create wood objects and furniture that seduce us in their artistic refinement.

Jim Partridge has been shortlisted twice for the Jerwood Furniture prize with his partner Liz Walmsley, and commissions include an altar for Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford, seats for Compton Verney Art Gallery, and furniture for Edinburgh Botanical Gardens. His work is also in the private collections of Contemporary Arts Society, Britain; The V&A Museum, London; The British Council; The Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester, UK; The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, UK; Kyoto Museum of Modern Art, Japan; Boston Museum of Fine Art, USA; and The Mint Museum of Craft and Design, Charlotte, USA.