BC’s most glorious and favourite tree, the Arbutus, constantly inspires and challenges me. Each time I discover a forest fall down or dead branch or tree, I always wonder what it will look like when I open up the wood. Arbutus has perhaps the widest range of wood colouring of any tree on the planet---from white to almost black with every shade of brown and red in between. Add the glory of the burls and roots and Arbutus will defy your imagination that what you see can come from one species. Sometimes it is only at the end of a long process of sanding and polishing with its first application of oil that the rarity of the wood grain bursts forth!

I am lucky that the type of designs I create can use relatively small pieces so that these rare grain colours and textures can be shown.

The challenge for me is to allow the exquisiteness of the wood to be best revealed in the designs I create. At the same time, each piece blends the elusive perfection of design, art and function in these culinary tools. Lovers of the culinary world will find these salad sets, butter knives, servers of all kinds and delightful cooking tools a lifelong friend. Because of the hardness of Arbutus, the Culinary Collection will last and last.

The tree’s special features define my work allowing a striking array of diversity in style and colour. “The Arbutus tree’s wood has such a wide range of colours and textures, and, because of its hardness, it finishes to the smoothest of smooth. It is easily the winner as my favourite wood.”

Hand-crafted overlooking Desolation Sound on Cortes Island in British Columbia, Ron salvages his wood from forest fall-downs and dead branches. Each created piece is totally unique following the natural shape of the wood – some for left-handed folk and some for right.

Born in Montreal, Ron has had varied careers as entrepreneur, business consultant and writer and publisher of children’s books. He first came to Cortes in 1984 and moved there full time in 1998. He has been a hobby wood turner on and off since he was 12.

Arbutus is unique among West coast North American hardwood species for its many superior qualities. It is worth its weight in gold as a medium for fine wood sculpture, turnings and natural finishes. Its rich tones and excellent finishing characteristics rival those of any tropical hardwood. There is no finer hardwood to be had anywhere in Canada or the United States.

Chosen for the rarity of the wood grain and elegance of the design, form meets function in the culinary tools Ron shapes. The pieces are polished to an exquisitely smooth finish to honour the beauty of the wood. This functional art demonstrates the spirit of Arbutus, capturing the essence of its native British Columbia in pieces designed to bring this beauty into the home.