Born 1940. Retired pharmacist. Founder member of Western Cape Woodturners in 1995 and SA Woodturners in 1996. Demonstrated nationally and locally but now fallen off the grid. Involved in successful partnership with 5 other woodturners at the Waterfront in Cape Town. Moved to the Watershed on Oct 9th. This is a new iniative by the Waterfront as part of the Cape Town design capitol of the world 2014. It is a major boost to craft in the Western Cape and houses 150 craft stalls. I am a silver medallist in Vita 2000 exhibition, icon of craft Western Cape 2007 etc. Cape Town is in the Republic of South Africa, the legislative capitol of RSA and situated in the Western Cape, one of the 9 provinces of the RSA. I am mostly self taught . Cut my teeth on books by Dale Nish and was through that introduced and inspired by David Ellsworth . I made my own tools for deep hollowing because at the time it was not available in RSA . I am inspired by a number of modern day turners . Being involved at the Watershed with 7 other turners keeps me busy producing new stock and does not always allow me the freedom to do more creative pieces .
- Thys Carstens