Carving life from timber

NANCY-May weighs 350kg, but it’s her quietness that draws people in.

A baby humpback whale, carved from a single length of cedar, she carries both the weight of the tree and the softness of the creature she now represents.

The work, carved by woodworker Darren Allbutt, last week earned a special mention from the judges in the sculpture exhibition at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden show.

It was praised for its sensitivity of subject and thoughtful use of reclaimed materials.

 

“There is something deeply generous in that act of renewal, and the work carries a quiet sense of care, continuity and respect for both tree and creature,” the judges’ citation said.

For Allbutt, it starts with the timber itself, pieces that might otherwise be cut up for firewood, given another life.

Working from his Queenscliff workshop, he has spent the past nine months turning salvaged timber into marine life shaped as much by instinct as intention.

Nancy-May is his largest work to date, carved over roughly 90 hours. It is also one of his most personal.

The sculpture is named for his mother.

 

“She’s so beautiful and majestic and peaceful and tranquil, just like our mum,” Allbutt said.

The practical skill behind the work, he said, comes from his father Gil, a commercial boat builder, while the artistic influence traces back through his mother’s side.

A chainsaw removes the first sections, rough and decisive. As he continues, the progress slows. The timber is rolled, turned, studied, the grain guiding each cut.

“It happens organically,” Allbutt said. “There’s no measurements to it. I just keep chipping away and let it evolve as it wants to.”

The cedar itself came via a tree surgeon, who called when the 50-year-old tree was being removed from a property in Belmont.

 

“What do you see?” they asked as it came down.

“A baby whale,” Allbutt said.

Growing up in Queenscliff, much of Allbutt’s work is shaped by the water. Whales, dolphins and other marine life have inspired his sculptures, drawn from a lifetime spent surfing, sailing and watching the bay.

“It’s about putting smiles on faces, but also highlighting these animals and looking after them,” he said.

Before she made the trip to Melbourne, Nancy-May was briefly installed at Portarlington front beach for photographs.

Within minutes, people had gathered, taking photos, lifting children up to sit on her back and asking if she was staying.

For all the growing attention, Allbutt remains measured about what comes next.

His path into sculpture has been gradual, following years in business, painting and furniture-making.

 

Even his first public exhibition was framed as a fundraiser, raising $25,000 for Cottage by the Sea, an organisation closely tied to his family.

Now, with Nancy-May drawing attention on a larger scale, he is content to let the work speak for itself.