Biography

Joey Richardson is an acclaimed British woodturner, sculptor, and contemporary artist whose work explores the powerful emotional and symbiotic relationship between people, trees, and place. Born and raised in the heart of Twigmoor Woods, Lincolnshire, Joey’s deep-rooted connection to nature began in childhood and continues to shape her artistic vision. Working primarily with reclaimed and locally sourced timber, she creates highly crafted, concept-driven pieces that speak of memory, identity, and transformation.

A serious car accident over thirty years ago became a turning point, leading Joey to discover woodturning as both a career and a therapeutic outlet. Through its meditative, hands-on process, she found healing, purpose, and a deeper connection to herself and others.

A bursary award from the Worshipful Company of Turners (2005) enabled her to travel to America and train with the renowned artist Binh Pho. This formative experience not only shaped her creative path but also sparked a deeper engagement with the Turners’ Company. That connection has grown over the years, and now she serves as Upper Warden, where she continues to give back to the craft and community that have supported her journey.

In 2012, Joey was awarded a scholarship from the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST), supported by the Carpenters’ Company. This opportunity allowed her to further refine her practice at a pivotal stage in her career. She later received the QEST Award of Excellence in recognition of her outstanding contribution to her craft.

Joey's practice bridges fine art and traditional craftsmanship. Her delicate wood forms—often pierced, coloured, and combined with light or glass—are complemented by a wider body of sculptural work that incorporates carving, casting, burning, gilding, photography, and mixed media. Each piece is deeply autobiographical, closely tied to the history of the place and the origin of the material. Through layered processes and symbolic forms, she uncovers stories held within the grain, reflecting on fragility, resilience, and renewal.

Completing an MA in Fine Art with distinction at the University of Lincoln in 2018 was a defining moment, broadening conceptual thinking, deepening material exploration, and infusing her art with deeper narrative and intention. Her work has been exhibited worldwide and is held in both public and private collections. She has created high-profile commissions for Fabergé and the Royal Warrant Holders Association, including the shaft for the ceremonial cross gifted to HM Queen Elizabeth II for her Diamond Jubilee.

She is the current President of the Association of Woodturners of Great Britain—the first woman to hold this role—and serves as Upper Warden of the Worshipful Company of Turners. Through these positions and her extensive teaching, demonstrating, and mentoring, she champions innovation, inclusion, and the preservation of craft. Her mission is to create bold, meaningful work, to share hard-won knowledge, and to elevate wood as a powerful medium for connection, reflection, and transformation.

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Artist Statement

​Woodturning is my voice—an emotional, tactile way of making sense of the world. After a life-changing accident, I turned to wood and found not just a craft, but a lifeline. Growing up in Twigmoor Woods, the trees were always part of me. Now, I work with reclaimed and local timber, chosen not for perfection but for its story—its scars, history, and quiet strength.

My work blends traditional turning with piercing, colour, and mixed media to create sculptural forms that speak of memory, vulnerability, and resilience. Each piece holds a narrative—a layered story waiting to be uncovered through form, texture, and light. The grain itself becomes a voice, a witness to time and transformation.

For me, creating is healing. It’s about connection. I want my work to be felt as much as seen—to stir something real, to remind us of our roots, and the beauty in what endures.