Pyrography: a traditional Celtic design and meditation.

An Oystercatcher on the shoreline near Stein, Waternish on the Isle of Skye.

Pyrography: a Black House (Tigh Dubh) design decorating a plaque.

Pyrography, literally meaning to draw or write with fire, is as old as man and his cave paintings. Historic examples can be found all over the world and are associated with most early cultures and civilisations.

Original tools were little more than branding irons heated in a fire. However, during the Victorian era, primitive blowtorch type machines were developed. These machines were dangerous though, as highly inflammable liquids such as petrol and benzine were pumped through a fine nozzle and ignited to burn the wood surface!

The harnessing of electricity early in the 20th century revolutionised pyrography techniques, Early tools, little more than soldering irons with crude tips, lead to today's modern, temperature controlled units with a fine wire tip that can be kept red-hot whilst working the wood. 

Pyrography is a relatively slow and a very personal art form, simply because it takes far longer to work the 'pen' across the wood, responding to the resistance and the inspiration offered by the grain, than it does to execute the same creativity with brush, pen or pencil.

Whilst wood remains the most popular medium for pyrography, the technique can also be applied to a number of other materials ranging from velvet to leather, and including cork and papiér-maché. It is also possible to etch wood pyrographically for printing.

'Dandelion Designs' use of natural woods aims for a balance between aesthetics and practicality, as smooth, regular-grained woods are easier to work but lack character as a finished work of art.

Sycamore provides an excellent compromise between workability and appearance, offering plenty of life and character. The grain itself often inspires a landscape or abstract work to be created upon it, encapsulating the spirit of the wood in the final artwork.

So - every work of art shown in the Craftshop is unique for two reasons: firstly the individual character, grain and appeal of the wood itself, and secondly the uniquely creative and personal process of pyrography that is used to enrich the wood in a manner that has been part of man's heritage since the days of the caveman!!