Rather than focusing on a single image or portrait, this memorial piece was designed as a collection of meaningful visual memories brought together into one handcrafted scene. Every element within the carving represents a person, story, place or shared family connection — from the vintage pickup truck and countryside landscape to the flowers, animals, signage and personalised wording. The aim is to create something uplifting and deeply personal that feels full of warmth, history and character.
The artwork begins as a custom layered relief design, carefully composed to balance storytelling with depth and detail. Once finalised, the piece is CNC carved from solid timber using multiple carving depths to create separation between foreground and background elements. After carving, each section is individually hand-painted using layered washes, dry brushing and subtle ageing techniques to bring warmth and texture to the finished scene while still allowing the natural character of the wood to remain visible. The final result is intended to feel less like a traditional memorial and more like a handcrafted tribute filled with personal memories and emotional connection.