Ceramics & Sculpture - Michael Lythgoe

Michael Lythgoe was born in Liverpool in 1950 and left school to pursue a career in engineering with Unilever with whom he undertook an apprenticeship. Upon completion he then joined the Merchant Navy as a junior engineering officer.

He later emigrated to Canada and worked in the ship building industry. Living and working on the shores of Lake Ontario gave him time to indulge his love of bird photography particularly when canoeing on the lakes of northern Ontario.

It was on a trip to Cape Cod that he purchased an old wooden decoy which was to influence a fundamental change of direction for Michael. That decoy still features in a prominent position in his wokshop to this day.

He returned to the UK with his wife and two children in 1986 and began a new career in wood carving.

Following an early sell out exhibition and then as a winner of the European Decoy Carving Championships, Michael began to develop a reputation and a following of admirers of his work.

Over the years his carvings have evolved into a unique style and composition and are simple yet beautifully crafted. His expertise is now much sought after and his work can be seen in a number of selected galleries in the UK. His subjects are inspired by the sea, land and bird-life in particular, and illustrate the keen eye of both a photographer that captures the moment and movement, and the technical understanding of the engineer.

His wood carvings are curvaceous and calming showing the eye of the ornithologist and the skill of an accomplished craftsman.

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