Papa Bear WoodWorking®
Peter Rogalski - Artistic woodworking, merging fine craftsmanship with design to create meaningful, functional art
Contact
United Kingdom
About
I’m a wood artist and storyteller based in Mayfield, Scotland, working under the name Papa Bear. My practice focuses on two core art forms: Story Clocks and Organic Wood Art Forms — hand-shaped pieces that exist at the meeting point of craft, narrative, and natural material.
My Story Clocks are functional sculptures. Each begins as raw, imperfect wood, chosen for its grain, weight, or history. I shape every piece using a blend of hand tools and power tools, working slowly and deliberately. I do not use CNC or automated carving — every curve and surface is guided by my hands and by the natural form of the timber. Resin, brass, burning, and traditional techniques are used only when they serve the story within the wood. The result is a clock that measures time, but more importantly, carries meaning.
My Organic Wood Art Forms emerge the same way — intuitively, without forcing the material into a predetermined shape. Some pieces choose not to hold a clock; they become sculptural artefacts instead. These forms are guided by texture, tension, flow, and the character of the grain.
I believe every piece of wood holds its own story. My role is to reveal it — through patience, handwork, and a sense of quiet respect for the material. Each collection I create follows this philosophy, and one clock from every series is always given away as a gift, reminding me that art is meant to be shared.
My aim is to continue developing Story Clocks as a recognised artistic form, and to explore deeper, more expressive Wood Art Forms rooted in narrative, craft, and the natural world.
— Papa Bear
Mini craft gallery
