KIERAN HIGGINS lives and works in West Cork, Ireland, just outside the market town of Skibbereen. Originally from Kildare, he began woodturning in 1996 and it is now his full-time occupation. He is a member of the Cork chapter of the Irish Woodturners' Guild, Cork Art & Design and the West Cork Craft & Design Guild.

The majority of Kieran's work consists of relatively large pieces in a variety of forms and timbers. He describes them as 'non functional pieces with a rustic feel'. The finished piece often highlights the timber's natural defects (shakes, cracks, decay, knots) and retains some of its natural edge.

Kieran also sculpts a portion of his turned work to achieve the final result. For this he employs various techniques including hand and power carving, specific texturing tools, burrs, even chainsaws—in fact, any instrument or tool which he feels will do the job.