Hello! We Are Bill and Mary, aka The Cheeky Choughs
Welcome to our small corner of the internet!
We are Mary and Bill, a husband-and-wife team based in the far South West of Cornwall. The Cheeky Choughs began as a shared love for creating—combining rustic wood with soft felt to bring a little Cornish character into the world. Every piece, from a fluffy felted animal to a quirky wooden bird, is made with love right here in our workshop.
Two Hands, Two Styles, One Vision
Mary: The Needle Felter
Mary brings the softness and character to the partnership. Using delicate needles and fine wool, she creates detailed felted figures, adorable animals, and intricate pictures. Her inspiration often comes from the local wildlife and the whimsical charm found along the Cornish coast.
Quote: “I love seeing a customer smile when they meet one of my little felted characters for the first time.”
Bill: The Rustic Woodworker
Bill is drawn to the natural textures of wood. He crafts quirky, rustic wooden birds and simple automata that capture movement and humor. Using reclaimed or natural materials, his work is designed to be tactile, unique, and full of personality.”
The Art of Seeing
“I’ve always seen faces where others see patterns—in the fold of a curtain, a shadow on the wall, or the weathered grain of a piece of driftwood. This is called Pareidolia, and for me, it’s where every creation begins.
I don’t just start with a block of wood; I wait until the wood speaks to me. A knot becomes an eye; a jagged edge becomes a wing. My job is simply to help that character find its way out.
Inspired by the charm of Aardman characters, I intentionally exaggerate the beaks and place the eyes on the front of the head to give them a cheeky, human-like expression. Whether it’s a mischievous chough or a stoic gull, they were already there in the wood, waiting to be found.”
Quote: “Finding the character in a piece of driftwood and bringing it to life is what I enjoy the most