The Gallery contains a range of dramatic wooden pieces by artist and woodturner Ray Patterson.

Ray's interest in woodturning began in 1993 after being made redundant from his job as a Veterinary Pharmaceutical Representative. Previous creative passions were modern jazz drumming and landscape photography.

Working from a small workshop in Northumberland Ray has been receiving recognition both at local and national levels since 1996, winning awards at competitions held at Alexandra Palace, London; NEC, Birmingham and Buxton in Derbyshire.

As a Member of the Association of Woodturners of Great Britain, Ray had his work chosen from the Warwick University seminars for two international exhibitions in 1997, and recently in 1999, the Wonders in Wood exhibition which toured southern Britain.

Using wood bought locally, Ray enjoys working with large burrs, especially Elm and Oak. The wood is left to dy before turning a rough shape, then after further drying, is turned on the lathe to completion. Some pieces are turned with wet wood in one go, turned thin, then they are left to form their own shape with some movement during the drying process.

Ray's main interest now lies in turning vessels, decorative bowls, hollow forms and sculptural pieces. These can be thin, based on porcelain, to large sculptural coarsely textured pieces. Ray utilises colour, and the exploration with various tooling and surface decoration, including chainsaw carving, power carving, scorching, bleaching, dying and wire brushing. Ray recently purchased a bigger lathe that will enable him to turn heavier pieces, up to 3 ft. in diameter.

Ray's influences are varied, studying ceramic to tribal art forms. His aim is to make visually satisfying and tacile pieces for sale through galleries and commissions. Ray is a Registered Professional Turner of the Worshipful Company of Turners.