Simon O’Rourke - Chainsaw-wielding artist
- Isobel Arden
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
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Meet Simon O’Rourke, a life of sculpting, art and wood
Simon O’Rourke is the unconventional chainsaw-wielding artist behind some of Britain’s most jaw-dropping wooden sculptures. Based in Wrexham, he specialises in turning condemned or waste timber into stories, breathing life into stumps and felled giants with a giant dose of creativity. With a background as an illustrator—and a stint in tree surgery—Simon swapped pencils for chainsaws around 2005 and hasn’t looked back.
He shot to international fame when he transformed the tallest tree in Wales into the iconic “Giant Hand of Vyrnwy”—a sculptural final salute to a fallen giant—using chainsaws, grinders and a whole lot of imagination. Other highlights include a star-gazing hare, beautifully textured Highland cows carved entirely by power tools, and family-friendly trails such as Matilda and the Wasps, born from a collaboration of wit and his wife Liz’s storytelling.
Simon’s also a prolific content creator, offering tips for tree carving enthusiasts, sharing seasonal advice and musings on timber—from timber selection to carving in the sun. He’s an ambassador for STIHL GB, a BNI member, and described by Forest Machine Magazine as “one of the finest chainsaw carvers… and one of the nicest people you will ever meet”.
His artwork features across private gardens, public spaces, sculpture trails, and competitions globally—from Japan to Canada. With a playful blend of professionalism, humour, and genuine passion, Simon O’Rourke crafts trees into tales that surprise, delight, and endure.
Simon O'Rourke's Fantasy Cultural Year
With a magic wand in one hand, a time machine warmed up, and a Star Trek transporter on standby, Mark sat down with Simon O’Rourke to imagine his dream cultural year. You can watch the conversation in full above— on YouTube or Spotify or SoundCloud.
What followed was a creative, witty, and globe-trotting journey across art, trees and wood.
1. A Sculpture in Switzerland & Stories in Cedar
Simon shared his passion for classical field sculpture, revealing the backstory of a commissioned piece in Switzerland.Part of a 1920s-inspired triptych of ladies, the sculpture was carved from a Western red cedar tree planted in the same era it depicted.Simon highlighted the narrative behind the sculpture—its thoughtful expression, faint smile, and layered meaning rooted in regional art nouveau traditions.For him, storytelling through form and grain is what gives sculpture its soul.
2. Pratchett, Tolkien & a Carving Odyssey
Mark and Simon bonded over their love for literature, trading favourite quotes from Terry Pratchett and J.R.R. Tolkien.The conversation shifted toward Simon’s next chapter: a potential year-long commission from a Liechtenstein-based family foundation.Their mission? Send Simon around the globe to research, document, and curate the world’s finest wood carvings.Simon’s journey would start in Germany, near Erfurt—exploring local carving styles as the first stop on this cultural pilgrimage.
3. Hans Zimmer, Hikaru Kodama & Dancing in Hokkaido
Talk turned musical, with Simon sharing his admiration for Hans Zimmer’s work, especially Planet Earth and Blue Planet.He also spoke warmly of his friend Hikaru Kodama, a Japanese artist with a gift for capturing human movement.Their next shared adventure? A trip to Hokkaido for a dance performance—where the beauty of motion and form would converge.
4. Street Beats & Championship Moves
When given the chance to choose any performance, Simon leaned toward the energy and agility of street dance over ballet.Mark mentioned that the World Street Dancing Championships were taking place in Hokkaido—an unexpected coincidence that sparked Simon’s curiosity.The idea of witnessing street dance at its peak felt like the perfect blend of art and athleticism.
5. Carbonara, Black Garlic & Montipulciano
Italian food was on the menu as Simon detailed his perfect dinner: a traditional Carbonara with egg, garlic, black olives, and a glass of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.A caprese salad—with balsamic, pesto, and good olive oil—rounded out the meal.Mark introduced Simon to the wonders of black garlic—its truffle-like aroma and velvety texture—and recommended trying it in meatballs.
6. Tokyo to New Jersey: A Route Rewritten
Simon and Mark mapped a global route—beginning in Tokyo, jetting to South America, and connecting with Simon’s friend Ricardo in Ecuador.A detour to explore BMXing and Olympic extreme sports led them to Pennsylvania… or rather, New Jersey, where they unexpectedly landed.Each stop layered stories, spontaneity, and shared curiosity.
7. Monet in VR & Sculptures with Soul
Simon shared his admiration for Monet, recalling his visit to Giverny and the tranquil beauty of the artist’s garden.In New Jersey, Mark proposed visiting a virtual reality-enhanced art gallery—where digital design breathes life into traditional masterpieces.Simon was intrigued, especially with the prospect of meeting Brett McLean, a friend with a flair for sculptural innovation.
8. A Hero’s Lunch with Michelangelo
Mark posed a final challenge: pick a cultural hero for a fantasy lunch.Simon chose Michelangelo—discussing artistry, anatomy, and ambition over bread and wine.Their imagined chat capped a dream year of research, travel, a TED Talk, a global lecture tour, and even a TV series based on Simon’s rankings of nations who most respect the art of wood sculpture.Mark closed by thanking Simon for the conversation—and promising to share the story when the time was right.
Explore some of Simon O'Rourke's work.
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Chief Culture Vulture
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