James Carroll has been working with wood in various forms for about twenty years. James likes the concept that furniture becomes an animate object once in the home or ownership of the individual, where people cherish it in a familial sense. He tends towards traditional craft practices but often employs these to work his chosen materials. In particular he likes to use previously used worn or obsolete mass produced objects and work them into his design concepts. Many people have influenced the approach he takes in his work, particularly George Nahashima, Victor Patenil, Ron Arad and is inspired by many vernacular buildings and makers here in Ireland. He works from his studio at Glenealy, which is surrounded by beautiful rugged landscape and woodland. His work is available from his studio, Cows Lane Designer Studio, Mayfly and Irish Design Shop. James is keen to introduce as many people as possible to green woodworking, hoping that it will have a positive impact on their appreciation of woods and woodcraft.
James would like to continue to use fachthuil techniques of green woodworking and employ these in new and relevant ways. He is also currently interested in recycling and incorporating older more industrial furniture objects in his work.
