The Percivals 2026

About the Artwork

My husband Ben is an avid woodturner—addicted, some might say, to creating works born of his passion and hobby. He is most in his element when covered in wood shavings and was very obliging to pose for this photo in his happy place—his home workshop, or ‘dust zone’. This area takes up the entire ground floor of our 1950s home, and is filled with machinery and shelves of timber from floor to ceiling.

Standing at the lathe, he has just completed the rough shaping of a blank destined to become a pepper grinder. The moment captures a pause between effort and intention: the work is not finished, but the form has begun to emerge. This striking timber, his favourite wood to work with, is named Hairy Oak for the hair-like strands that cover the tree, and for reasons he finds oddly relatable. This portrait is framed with the same timber handcrafted by Ben and his brother Isaac.

About the Artist

Once self-employed in the wedding and portrait photography industry, Hayley Ferguson has built a strong foundation capturing meaningful moments. After several years, she shifted her focus to broader freelance work, allowing for a more flexible creative practice. Having started a family in recent years, the occasional portraits and candid shots of everyday family life are more her pace these days.