Self-Taught Artist Builds 30-Year Career with Chainsaw Art

What started as a Sunday afternoon favor for his mother turned into a thriving three-decade career that proves it's never too late to discover your calling.

Simon Bogg, 53, picked up a chainsaw for the first time at his mother's request to carve a simple mushroom. Within a week, she had five orders from neighbors who wanted their own wooden creations.

The father of two from Louth, Lincolnshire, took a leap of faith after selling out his first country show. He left the building trades behind and never looked back.

Today, Simon freestyles each sculpture without blueprints or detailed plans. He works eight-hour shifts for up to three days on complex pieces, carving bears, rhinos, badgers, and his most popular creation: owls that start at $150.

His raw materials include imported cedar from the Pyrenees Mountains and local garden timber. Each week, he completes around three sculptures of varying complexity, transforming ordinary logs into lifelike animals.

Simon's approach is refreshingly simple: "I just get a lump of wood and get on with it. Chop away what you don't need and then start shaping up."

The work isn't easy. His hands ache from vibrations, his back hurts from hoisting heavy equipment, and he risks hearing damage from hours of chainsaw noise.

His tallest creation stands 22 feet high, while his most valuable pieces fetch between $6,800 and $9,500. His recent elephant sculpture could command the top end of that range.

Why This Inspires

Simon's story shows that formal training isn't always necessary when passion meets determination. He found his life's work by saying yes to an unusual request and being brave enough to turn early success into a full-time career.

Even when people questioned whether carving wood with chainsaws counted as a "proper job," he stayed committed to his craft. Three decades later, his unique sculptures bring joy to customers across the country while proving that unconventional career paths can lead to extraordinary lives.

His favorite projects? "I really like the big ones, that are in your face. The things that people say are impossible."

For anyone dreaming of a career change, Simon's journey offers a powerful reminder: sometimes your true calling arrives disguised as a simple favor for your mom.