MICK BURNS originally trained in forestry with the Forestry Commission, then at Newton Rigg College in Cumbria. However, as his main interest lay in making things from a variety of different materials, he eventually "branched" out in other directions working mainly in mould manufacture and casting sculptural objects - ultimately leaving forestry behind for a good number of years.

Circumstances dictated his return to forestry as an instructor with Riseholm University in Lincolnshire. Given the opportunity of a plentiful supply of timber of large dimensions and ready access to a variety of chainsaws, he started to further develop his carving skills. This eventually became a realistic proposition in terms of earning a living, so he gave up the "day job" and concentrated on the sculpture. It now supplies him with his main source of income.

Since 2001 he has delivered courses in forestry related subjects as part of the "Lincwoods" project in Lincolnshire. One of the courses he developed was tailored for instruction in chainsaw carving for those already in possession of a recognized qualification in chainsaw operation. In addition to this he has also been involved in delivering training workshops for The Coach House Trust in Glasgow.

For the past nine years he has attended the major carving event "Sculptree" at Westonbirt Arboretum near Tetbury in Gloucestershire, as a guest carver.

Like so many other artists Mick takes inspiration from the shapes and forms nature has to offer, although in some ways he tends more towards the unconventional in that he finds objects like animal skulls fascinating from a sculptural point of view. It was from this source that he decided on the subject for his first opportunity to carve as a guest at Sculptree '99. He chose to produce a giant roe deer skull which subsequently featured on the cover of Woodworking Magazine.

Mick also loves to carve shells. Their apparent simplicity masks the rather complicated progression of a helix which, if one does not capture quite right, can result in the piece only being fit for firewood.