My Story...

My name is Darren, the maker behind Chapel Woodturning Studio. Based in beautiful Aberdeenshire, Scotland. I spent many years working as a professional driver within the heart of the Scottish whisky industry. While I loved the heritage of the glens, I always had a deep passion for working with my hands and creating lasting pieces of art.

Having recently stepped into semi-retirement, I’ve traded the steering wheel for the lathe. I invested in upgrading my home workshop so I could dedicate my time to the craft I love: transforming historic, salvaged whisky cask oak timber into functional art.

Living on the doorstep of the world’s finest Scottish distilleries, I specialize in working with authentic Speyside whisky casks. There is something truly magical about turning wood that has spent decades maturing fine Scotch; as the lathe turns, the workshop fills with the rich scent of oak and history. My motto is simple: 'Created by nature, finished by hand.'

I am incredibly passionate about every single pen, keyring, and bookmark I create. Because no two barrel staves are identical, every piece has its own unique character, grain deviations, and story to tell.

I love bringing people into my creative process. You can see a 'behind-the-scenes' look at how these historic casks are transformed by following my journey on Facebook and Instagram (see links at the bottom of the page). Thank you for supporting independent Scottish craftsmanship!