INVENTIVE creations made from wood have turned heads.

Retired doctor Nick Simpson, of Mowden, in Stocksfield, has been named British amateur woodturner of the year at the inaugural Guild of Master Craftsmen Awards.

Nick turned his written adventure stories of fictional character Professor Bergenstrauser into wooden creations, and his entry of ‘Breakfast with the Alchemist’ was proudly exhibited in the Oxo Tower, in London, following his triumph.

He said: “I was blown away really because the piece I entered was rather complex.

“The piece was part of the story following the journey of a fictitious character who is a cross between Phileas Fogg and Captain Nemo who went on a quest to turn wood into gold. It included various items and it took about nine months because I produced it in bits and pieces.”

Nick took up wood turning in 2011, four years after discovering a passion for stick dressing.

The final entry was inspired by a series of works he had compiled in competitions for the Northumbrian Woodturner Association, of which he is secretary.

“The win is fantastic for the North-East, and the Northumbrian woodturners too, and to get recognition for what is happening up here creatively helps put us on the map,” Nick said.

In addition to appearing in the London exhibition, Nick, who works under the name of Bogle Craft, was presented with a voucher worth £500 from Axminster Tools.