Neil Turner now resides on a 10 acre wooded block at Stratham 11 kilometers south of Bunbury. The years spent on his wheat and sheep farm 180 km east of Perth in Western Australia provided the opportunity to use wood normally overlooked and neglected by other woodworkers. His early years were spent juggling work and family with occasional woodturning. Neil Turner has been turning and sculpting wood for over 32 years, attending workshops whenever possible to improve his technique and sharpen his focus and skills. He has in recent years studied and completed a Diploma of Fine Furniture at The Australian School of Wood in Dwellingup.
Neil Turner – Artist Statement
“My rural environment greatly influenced me, as I was able to observe the wind, fire and water impact the land. My intention is to incorporate these aspects into work that has a free, expressive and organic appearance while using carving and turning techniques to achieve a purity of form.

Wood a living breathing organism that captures my imagination. The opportunity to express thoughts and ideas in a tangible creation that continues to react within it’s environment. To design and create in wood poses many challenges both in structure and integrity but the pleasure I derive from my work is simple, a joy and passion to create pieces of work that I like.”

b. 1958, Narrogin, Australia
EDUCATION
1992/94    Woodturning Workshop with Stephan Hughes, Bunbury

1993    Woodturning Workshop with Vic Wood, Bunbury

1999    Woodturning Workshop with John Jordan, Dwellingup

2000    Woodturning Workshop with Graham Priddle, Dwellingup

2000    Woodturning Workshop with Gordon Ward, Dwellingup

2003    Designing Futures Workshop with Louise Hibbit, Dwellingup, Sarah Parker, Hayley Smith & Todd Hoyer

2003    Designing Futures Workshop with Stephen Hogbin, Perth

2005    Creative Workshop Advanced Embellishment with Dwellingup Monique Tippet

2007/9/11    Invitation Collaborative Workshop Bowral

2009/10    Invitation Collaborative Workshop, Bunbury

2009/11    Invitation Goongarrie Station Workshop, Kalgoorlie

2010-11    Diploma of Fine Furniture Dwellingup

2011    Turnfest Demonstrator, Sea World Resort, Queensland

2013    International Turning Exchange, Residency The Center for Art in Wood Philadelphia
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
1999-04    Australian Woodturning Exhibition, Nunawading, Victoria, Australia

2000/01/02    Perth Royal Show – Eastern District Display. Claremont, Western Australia

2002-08/10    Out of The Woods, Claremont Showgrounds, Perth, Australia

2005    Scintillating, Armadale City Redevelopment Authority, Armadale,

Western Australia.

2005/08/11    Collectors of Wood Art Symposium, Philadelphia, USA

2005/08-9    Turned Wood – Small Treasures, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2005-06    Woodworks, Meatmarket Art Centre, Melbourne, Australia

2005-08/11    SOFA (Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art Exposition) Chicago, IL

2005-08    SOFA (Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art Exposition) New York, NY

2006/09    Turned & Sculptured Wood, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2006    ART Scottsdale, WestWorld, Art & Antiques, Scottsdale, AZ

2006    Selected Works, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2007    Sculpture 2007 – The Shape of Things, Bungendore Wood Works Gallery, Bungendore, NSW, Australia

2007    Pacific Connections, Del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2009    On Fire, Mundaring Arts Centre, Mundaring, Australia

2009/10    Coast to Coast, Bunbury Regional Art Gallery, Bunbury, Australia

2009    Spirit of Timber – ‘Objects of Desire’, Artgeo Gallery, Busselton, Australia

2011    Mid West Art Prize, Geraldton Regional Art Gallery, Geraldton, Australia

2011    “Signature SouthWest” ArtGeo Gallery, Busselton, Australia

2011    Pi to Pentagon, Collaboration with Harvey Fein, SOFA Chicago Chicago, IL

2012/13    South Western Times Survey, Bunbury Regional Art Gallery Bunbury, Australia

2012    SOFA Chicago, “Thunder Down Under” Chicago, IL

2012    “Neil Turner Unfolding”, South West Showcase, Bunbury Regional Art Galleries Bunbury, Australia

2012    Robyn Wood’s CORES Recycled, The Center For Art in Wood Philadelphia, PA

2012    Crafthaus (online exhibition). “Crafting this Antipodean Place”

2012-16    Art Palm Beach Miami, FL

2013    “Harmony” Professional Outreach Programme (POP), American Association of Woodturners. Gallery of Wood Art St Paul, Minnesota

2013    “Currents” American Association of Woodturners Symposium Invitational exhibition Tampa, FL

2015    “Coalesce” Solo exhibition, Linton and Kay Galleries Perth, Australia

2015    AtGeo Exhibition, ArtGeo Gallery, Busselton. Western Australia

2015    City of Kalgoorlie Art Prize, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia

2015    “Patterns” Professional Outreach Programme (POP), American Association of Wood turners, Gallery of Wood Art, Pittsburgh, PA

2015    Perth College 31st Annual Exhibition, Mount Lawley, Western Australia
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2004    Australian Wood Review, Edition 43, 44 The West Australian newspaper, Habitat, December 500 Wood Bowls, Lark Books, Sterling Press, Ashville, NC

2005    “Turning Downunder”, American Woodturner Magazine, Winter

2006    Insite Homes, Autumn Edition. Western Australia.

2006    Instyle Interiors, Edition 3. Western Australia.

2006/07    Insite Homes, Summer Edition. Western Australia.

2007    Capital, Edition 26, Canberra. Australia

2010    Creative Wood New Zealand, March Edition 96. New Zealand.

2011    Rockler Woodworking and Hardware, March Catalogue. Medina, MN
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh PA

Armadale Redevelopment Authority Collection, City of Armadale Collection

Shire of Capel Art Collection

Norton Rockler Collection, Medina, Minnesota. USA

City of Bunbury Art Collection

Government House, Canberra

Numerous International Private Collections (USA, UK and Japan)
GRANTS, ARTICLES AND DEMONSTRATIONS
2013    Artflight Grant (Department of Culture and the Arts WA) – International Turning Exchange

2013    Artist Profile in UK Woodturning Magazine, UK Wood Carving, Crafts Arts International Issue 87

2012-15    Professionally writes articles for American Assoc. for Woodturning, UK Woodturning and Australian Wood Review

2011/12/15/16   Turnfest Demonstrator, Sea World Resort, Queensland

2013/15    Demonstrator at American Assoc. of Woodturning Symposium

2015    Demonstrator at Utah Woodturning Symposium

2013/15    Professional Demonstrations throughout USA