A GALLERY and workshop specialising in hand-crafted wooden vessels has opened in the region.

Hollow Creations at Ingleby Cross, just off the A19 near Ingleby Arncliffe, is run by husband-and-wife team Gordon and Carol Knight.

Along with a large wooden vessels and jars which Mr Knight makes, the gallery also has vessels and sculptures crafted from ceramics, glass, bronze and wrought-iron.

For the couple, who live in Seamer, opening the gallery is the fulfilment of a long-held ambition since Mr Knight turned his back on his corporate career.

In his younger days, he served an apprenticeship as a wood cutting machinist before getting into management work in the entertainment industry. Six years ago, he began working with wood once again, then left his job and pursued the craft full-time.

His wife said: "He made some very good pieces, and because of the quality of his work, we realised we could sell them at interior design shows. But we are so pleased to be opening the gallery, because having a permanent base gives us so much more scope to develop the work."

The couple were immediately attracted to the building at Ingleby Cross. "The atmosphere is perfect because the pieces lend themselves so well to a rural village environment," said Mrs Knight. "We also liked the fact that it had a workshop area, so visitors can see Gordon actually making the vessels."

His pieces are made from green timber supplied by local tree surgeons. The wood is usually gathered after storm damage, and is never cut down for use in the artwork.

"The pieces are quite unusual, because there are very few people who work with wet wood," said Mrs Knight. "The artist has to make the piece to its finished form and let it dry very slowly.

Even though it only takes about two days to make the piece, it can take between 18 and 24 months to dry enough for it to be oiled and polished. It takes a lot of patience because, if it's done wrong, the piece will warp and crack."

Over the years, her husband has perfected his technique, and only loses about 5pc of his pieces to this kind of fault. Despite the difficulty of the material, he believes soft wood gives the best finish on large pieces of such depth.

The gallery has large and small sculptures and vessels made by other artists from different materials. "We look for forms which are unusual," said Mrs Knight. "All the pieces are very individual."

Hollow Creations is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 9.30-3pm, with pieces priced from £20-£70. For more information, contact the gallery on 01609 882050.

Jane Harpe