T.A.G.
Smith
Inspired by the natural world, Nottinghamshire based self-taught
artist T.A.G. Smith creates unique realistic sculptures using the natural
characteristics of different woods. From the age of fourteen when he
bought his first scroll saw, Tom has gradually been teaching himself and
developing a technique known as ‘intarsia’, which was first practised
in Islamic North Africa in the seventh century before spreading across
Europe during the Renaissance. Intarsia is a woodworking technique that
is similar to marquetry and uses pieces of wood of different size, shape
and species to create a picture which is like a mosaic but with an illusion
of depth.
Starting in a small attic workshop on the second floor of his parents’
house at the age of 21, with limited equipment and a growing fascination
with birds, Tom began to create life size intarsia birds which soon
grabbed the attention of gallery owners and potential customers. Before
long it was time to upgrade his machines to allow him to create the things
he knew he was capable of. After realising that the floor of his parents’
attic wouldn’t support the weight of the machines he needed, Tom found
himself a workshop to rent in an old textiles factory which is perfect for
his work as the long row of windows in the roof flood the space in natural
light.
Tom’s work, which is currently available at a number of galleries across
the UK, is often described by people who see it as