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Still decompressing after the @aptgw_bodgers last weekend. My head and heart are full in equal measures. . . . Thanks to everyone who voted for my cawl spoon and brush. A real honour to leave with two, first place pieces. . . . Left with an incredible bounty again. Top drawer work from @sien_dehaes , @handgemaakt.geluk , @s.mackay_woodcraft , @paul_woodlandcraft , @john_ , @woodmungler , @chris.bannister.777 , @lee_t_burton and last and definitely least @fuzz.maz ! . . . Lovely to have @heddfanfromnarberth to share it with this year, and Gwendog of course. I took three photos of the same building the whole time. Too much fun and socialising! . . . Also, looking forward to rehearsing our musical numbers with @ellekers_wood gang for next year’s headline act. It was a blast. . . . 💚 . . . #greenwood #spooncarver #maker #carver #communitylove

One thing I’ve noticed about antique Cawl spoons is how the bowls vary in shape and depth. I fancied trying a deeper, smaller bowl with this one. Dropping the width of the bowl this much has seeped to remove a little of its historic form. A nice utensil, but not true to its ancestry I’m afraid. . . . 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 . . . #cawlspoon #spooncarving #woodenspoon #cymru #wales

Coming to the end of a big book project, I’ve been very preoccupied with Cawl spoons. Had the pleasure of perusing a wonderful selection with @tim_bowen_antiques from which this new batch take inspiration. . . . I’ve been familiar with the iconic shape for some years, but I was surprised by the variety in design, finish, crank and species in the historic collection. . . . I have something bubbling here in West Wales concerning a massive, public project. Playing my cards close at the moment, but can’t wait to share my plans with you all (and especially fellow carvers!) . . . 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 . . . #cymru #cawlspoons #cawlspooncymru #spooncarving #leejohnphillips

I may only ever carve Welsh spoons with Welsh patterns from now on!!! . . . This shape and decoration is an amalgamation of several spoons I gushed over with @tim_bowen_antiques this week. . . . It’s taken a lot of restraint to keep the decoration minimal, but I think it sits happily with me. Expect more Welsh loveliness moving forward as I have a spot exhibiting at the National Botanical Gardens about 15mins from our woods. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 . . . #cawlspoon #cymru #carmarthenshire #pembrokeshire #maker

It’s been a considerable time since I’ve carved and decorated a spoon. I’ve got completely lost down a Cawl spoon rabbit hole and I fear it may be a deep and meandering one. Plans are underway for a big project that will involve me stepping away from the drawing board and socialising! . . . No sharing too much yet until our funding bid is in place, but it’s gonna be a very nourishing project in more ways than one. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 . . . This cherry spoon takes influence from numerous historic spoons and I’ve given it an unnecessary modern twist. Lovely to get back to it though. . . . Thanks to those involved so far for their time and expertise @welshchairmaker @tim_bowen_antiques @annwnrestaurant and @heddfanfromnarberth for her continued, unwavering support for my crazy endeavours. . . . #cymru #cawlspoon #fireinmyheart #supperfurryanimals @superfurryanimals

I’m no good at making ‘content’. Especially when I get time to work in the woods. I just want to graft, see results in the land and stay away from the screens I spend my working week in front of. . . . This may be an option to record all that’s happening. I’ll try to make a round up once a week of the casual snaps and videos I take as I’m plodding along. I’m comfortable with this, but I will try and make an appearance sometime. . . . Very grateful for some sun and a definite start to spring. I cleared and levelled this little patch yesterday for a private little carving spot by the stream. Can’t wait to get the time to relax in it! 🪓 . . . #woodland #carver #hardworkpaysoff #cymru

The wonderful @heddfanfromnarberth @dianarbrook will be delivering a print workshop prefest at @spoon.town this year. It’s perfect for small craft businesses to get a handle on their own brand identity with lino cut and silk screen outcomes. Perfect for packaging, t-shirts and whatever your creative mind can muster. As well as leaving with your own branded merch, you’ll also have digital versions to take home to use on your social media assets. How good is that?!?! 🌳 . . . Will we see you there? . . . #creativeworkshops #branding #logo #design

ANADL Y DDRAIG 🔥🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 GYDA LLETWAD BACH GAN @leejohnphillips Happy Saint David’s Day! To celebrate such a momentous day of Welsh Heritage, I’ve teamed up with @leejohnphillips for the ultimate combination of cocktail and cawl. We really could not be more steeped in Welsh culture here. This drink is an ode to the fire of our beloved nation, and the handmade cawl spoon encapsulates our rich history. What a country. For the history, the Cawl spoon or lletwad bach (small ladle) has very significant roots in rural Wales. A utilitarian object, it was widely used during the 18th and 19th century to eat a stew or broth. Characterised by a deep, oval bowl it had a thin, tapered handle and was often placed into a tiered, wall-mounted rack for drying. These utensils were generally made from sycamore which is of pleasant density to carve and also possesses antibacterial properties. Being a fast growing species made it readily available in rural Wales. This particular Cawl spoon by Lee John Phillips was a prototype for @annwnrestaurant in Pembrokeshire. Michelin Green Star awarded, Annwn pays homage to seasonal, foraged produce available from the abundant West Wales ecosystems. The design of the spoon was to reflect Chef Matt Powell’s modern interpretation of this Welsh icon. For the drink, Anadl Y Ddraig, simply shake over ice: •50ml @penderyn.distillery Legend Whisky •15ml Ginger Syrup •25ml Lemon Juice Finally, top up with Soda Water. Garnish with fresh lemon and ginger, and serve in a wonderful @fforest mug. Cheers!! Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus! #stdavidsday #wales #cymru #ccchbp #cocktail

CRUISE CONTROL COCKTAILS; REBORN 🌴 After 6 years in the game, it’s time to kick things up a notch - which meant teaming up with @leejohnphillips for an epic rebrand. Better content than ever before. A focus on brand collaborations. Welcome to a new dawn of Instagram cocktail content. Drop me a DM and I will cook up the greatest reel you’ve ever seen for your bar, alcohol brand, or relevant organisation. The only way is up. CHEERS 🌴🥂😎💖 #ccchbp #cardiff #cocktails #drinkstagram #cocktail

Well, this is exciting news! Myself and @jonpountney have a joint exhibition at @tyturnerpenarth … . . . “Sheds brings together the work of Jon Poutney and Lee John Phillips, two artists united by a fascination with the hidden stories within everyday spaces and objects. Across Wales, sheds take countless forms, garden sheds, garages, outhouses, potting sheds. Each a small, mysterious world in its own right. For Phillips, the shed is both archive and muse: a place of objects meticulously preserved, each with a history and a story to tell. Poutney, meanwhile, captures the people, places, and moments that surround these structures, revealing the life and communities they inhabit. Together, their work transforms the humble shed into a lens for curiosity, creativity, and storytelling, inviting viewers to discover the extraordinary in the ordinary and to see these familiar spaces with fresh eyes” . . . The show runs from January 15th to February 22nd 2026. . . . 🔩

FOLLOWING ON FROM YEATERDAY’S POST… . . . Here’s another batch of older work I found stashed in a forgotten folder. Some lovely, memorable work in this little portfolio. . . . 🎨

I was trawling my hard drive this morning for photos to send to a gallery. I stumbled on a folder with this lovely selection of work. . . . I studied General Illustration in university and was always worried that I had no recognisable style. Little did I know that would be an advantage throughout my career. . . . 🖊️ ✏️ 🖊️ ✏️ 🖊️ ✏️