Rolly Munro is a self taught New Zealand wood artist who has been sculpting wood since the early 1980s. His work is held in public and private collections around the world and he has contributed to many publications and symposiums offshore. His sculptures are strongly influenced by natural forms found around the coastlines of New Zealand including shells, shellfish, animals and plants.

In this episode Rolly talks about how he discovered his passion for wood and wood turning, his early influences, his time studying fine art at Otago Polytechnic in Dunedin in his twenties and how he came to work as a sculptor.

He shares how he developed his gouging tool designing and making business, the Munro Hollowing System, which are groundbreaking tools now used by woodturners worldwide, started initially out of necessity as the tools he needed weren't available. We discuss the challenges of running the business and maintaining his art practice.

He talks in depth about one of his latest works, made of NZ native wood Pohutakawa, and other commissions he has completed, and describes his techniques, ideas and creative processes.

Rolly also touches on the difficulties he has experienced showing and selling his work in Aotearoa NZ as a wood artist and how off shore commissions are his main source of income.

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