Woodcraftian is the trading name of Josh Lawson, natural builder and artist
Natural Building
I began my natural build training through volunteering on a range of projects, including numerous joyous build camps with Adrian at Wholewoods. Alongside being a coppicer with Leeds Coppice Workers I grew in experience and skill and took on my first build projects. For the last 5 years I’ve worked professionally as a roundwood timber framer and natural builder on a number of different projects and structures. I’m particularly interested in the felt sense of space that a structure provides and playfully exploring these boundaries and what can be achieved at low impact and low cost - scarity builds creativity.
Stained Glass
I did my first stained glass workshop just over 10 years ago - a neighbour in my co-op led the course and they needed an extra person so I said I’d jump in, and now here we are. Whilst I loved glass as a material I never enjoyed working with lead and soldering, and ended up taking a making break for a few years. After a period of study and playing with a lasercutter at Leeds Hackspace I developed my innovative construction process and began increasing the scope and scale of my art. My design inspiration is biophilic and sacred geometries, and creating shapes that show added dimensional depth.
T’other things
Outside of messing with wood and glass I spend a goodly amount of time being in nature and walking in the forest, spending time with my pet Pickle, and fermenting.
I’m passionate about community ownership and co-operatives and have lived and worked in numerous worker co-operatives, along with training as a barefoot co-op practitioner.
