The Chichester business capturing seaside scenes with driftwood

While many of us carrying on walking Tim Charnick from West Ashling sees the opportunity to create something amazing.

He said: “A good piece of gnarled driftwood has so much character to it and often the shape decides what it will ultimately become when I get it home; a harbour wall or a rocky outcrop for a lighthouse to live on.

“I often wonder, as I walk on the beach picking up the wood, where it started and what it must have seen on its journey, what its story is.

“I suppose I want to give it a chance to tell its story and have a life beyond the shore.”

Tim creates harbour and seaside houses using driftwood, taking inspiration from holidays by the sea and harbour buildings.

“Inspiration comes from Cornwall to Scotland via Norfolk and Yorkshire,” he added.

If he isn’t making driftwood houses Tim is a graphic designer and illustrator.

When asked how much wood he has collected he said: "A lot. I have a wood store in my garden that is full of driftwood and recycled wood. Some large feature bits and others really small, ideal for roofs and doors. Some of the wood I have had since I started and I’m just waiting for the right piece to add it to."

The houses aren’t created in one sitting but rather Tim works on them a little at a time until he is happy with it. The small ones take a few hours whereas the bigger ones a few days.

To view Tim’s work, visit buytheseaside.org.uk

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