February 2025 - Charnwood Stoves

SIA Report: Significant Decline in Emissions from Domestic Combustion in the UK

Author: charnwoodstoves

Published: 21 Feb 2025

We’ve eagerly been awaiting the release of Defra’s latest data on particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) from domestic combustion. The findings are in – and its great news for the stove industry and everyone who appreciates the warmth and comfort of a real fire! According to the Emissions of air pollutants in the UK – Particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) report, overall emissions from domestic combustion have seen a significant decline, underscoring the significant progress in reducing air quality impacts from home heating with solid fuel and biomass.

Key findings from the Defra report

1/ Emissions Falling Below Road Transport
One of the most striking headlines: annual particulate emissions from domestic combustion have fallen below those from road transport in 2023. This signals a major milestone in the journey towards cleaner air.

2/ 17% Reduction in PM Emissions from 2020 to 2023
Between 2020 and 2023, PM2.5 and PM10 emissions from domestic combustion dropped by 17%, with a 7% decrease in the last year alone (2023 compared to 2022).

3/ Long-Term Progress
Looking back to 1990, there’s been a 72% reduction in both PM2.5 and PM10 from domestic combustion. These figures highlight just how far the industry has come over the decades.

Modern stoves leading the way

Andy Hill, Chair of the Stove Industry Association (SIA), credits a large part of these improvements to modern stove technology and better fuel quality:

“This significant reduction in emissions from domestic combustion can be attributed to several factors, including the adoption of modern stove appliances and the use of better quality fuel, and increased consumer awareness and education. The SIA and its members have played a crucial role in this progress, working collaboratively to create cleaner and more efficient appliances, and to promote consumer best practice.”

We couldn’t agree more. As stove manufacturers and #positivewoodburing advocates, we’ve seen first-hand how Ecodesign and clearSkies stoves are transforming the industry. By replacing open fires and older stoves with modern, high-efficiency models, we reduce emissions dramatically while still enjoying all the benefits of a real wood-burning fire.

Skye E700

We are not sitting still but constantly innovating and leading technological advances to reduce emissions even further – proven by the development of the remarkable Skye E700. Equipped with intelligent combustion technology that automatically controls airflow for optimal burning, the E700 is a game changer. Simply load the stove, close the door, and let the system handle the rest—it’s that straightforward.

Powered by Charnwood I-Blu microprocessor-controlled technology, the Skye E700 removes user human error by continuously monitoring the fire, enhancing efficiency and cutting emissions with real-time automated adjustments. It delivers just the right amount of air exactly when and where it’s needed, ensuring a cleaner, more efficient burn every time. This approach benefits air quality, conserves fuel, and provides a stunningly clear view of the flames. With an outstanding 89% efficiency rating, the Skye E700 is among the cleanest, greenest, and most fuel-efficient stoves available today.

A shared vision for cleaner air

The new data not only underscores the progress the stove industry has made, but it also points to a much-needed shift in the wider conversation around domestic heating. Rather than focusing on outright bans and restrictions, we can see a clear path forward:

1/ Replacing Outdated Appliances
Encouraging the upgrade from open fires and older stoves to modern Ecodesign-compliant models is vital for continued emissions reductions.

2/ Using Better-Quality Fuel
Quality, dry wood (with moisture content below 20%) and clean, approved solid fuels further reduce emissions and enhance stove efficiency.

3/ Collaboration & Education
By working together with government bodies, environmental groups, and consumers, we can keep refining technologies and practices for the benefit of all.

SIA top tips for cleaner and greener wood burning

Choose an Ecodesign-Compliant Stove: Look for the clearSkies mark. If you’re currently using an older stove or open fire, consider upgrading to achieve up to a 90% reduction in emissions compared to open fires.

Check Smoke Control Area Requirements: If you live in a Smoke Control Area, you’ll need a Defra-exempt appliance. (All clearSkies Level 3 and above stoves are Defra-exempt.)

Seek Expert Advice: Visit your local SIA Retail Group member for help in choosing the right size stove and a detailed installation quote.

Professional Installation: Always ensure your stove is installed by a qualified competent person (e.g., HETAS or OFTEC registered).

Use Quality Fuel: Look for the Ready to Burn label to guarantee your logs are at or below 20% moisture content. Never burn treated wood or household waste.

Regular Maintenance: Service your stove and sweep your chimney at least once a year. An NVQ-qualified chimney sweep can also provide valuable advice for best practices.

Follow Manufacturer’s Instructions: Correct operation of your stove not only helps reduce emissions but also optimizes efficiency.

For more information about the Stove Industry Association and its ongoing work, visit
www.stoveindustryalliance.org

Why Modern Wood-Burning Stoves Are Key to Energy Security & Resilience—The Perfect Backup Heat Source

Author: charnwoodstoves

Published: 18 Feb 2025

With recent proposals from anti-wood-burning lobbyists seeking to phase out wood-burning stoves by 2030, it’s critical to examine why such a move would be a profound act of self-sabotage for the nation. Modern wood-burning stoves are far more than a nostalgic nod to tradition—they are an essential, balanced solution that supports energy security, sustainability, and resilience in an increasingly uncertain world.

Acceptable air quality: A balanced perspective

We must recognise that a certain level of particulate matter, including PM2.5, in the air is both inevitable and compatible with human flourishing. Zero emissions is not realistically achievable; they are a natural by-product of human progress, innovation, and the resilience needed to adapt to an ever-changing world. All energy sources have their challenges somewhere along the line—whether it’s fossil fuels, renewables, or biomass. While we can and should optimise systems to reduce their impact, no single solution can eliminate all problems.

Current UK PM2.5 levels are well within acceptable limits across the vast majority of the country. In fact the latest data shows that PM2.5 emissions for domestic combustion have fallen by 7% compared to the 2022 figures (1). However, it is true that there are isolated areas where poor practices—such as open fires, old stoves, wet wood, and bonfires—contribute disproportionately to localised pollution. These are the areas that demand targeted change, not blanket bans on all forms of wood-burning. Modern wood stoves, designed to Ecodesign standards, are a sensible part of the solution, significantly reducing emissions and improving air quality, while also adding energy security.

A blanket ban to drive emissions below already acceptable levels risks compromising one of our most valuable and dependable heating options. By focusing on optimising and encouraging responsible practices, we can balance environmental and health concerns with the practical needs of society, ensuring energy resilience and progress go hand in hand.

Energy insecurity is a real and present threat

The UK faces an alarming vulnerability in energy security. Recent reports from Centrica warned that “plunging temperatures and high demand for gas-fired power stations had reduced UK winter gas storage to concerningly low levels.” With the nation only holding enough gas storage for 7.5 winter days—compared to France’s 103 days and the Netherlands’ 123 days—this shortfall highlights the fragility of our energy supply (2).

With energy prices remaining volatile and power outages an ever-present risk, reliable alternatives are more critical than ever. Modern wood stoves offer households a degree of independence and safety, allowing them to stay warm and even cook if the grid goes down. They can also help stabilise energy demand, reducing pressure on overstretched resources.

Realistic scenarios: The bigger picture

1/ Rising Energy Prices
Banning wood-burning would force households reliant on sustainable wood fuel to shift to mains energy, inevitably increasing demand and driving up costs for everyone. This would disproportionately affect vulnerable households.

2/Extreme Weather
Scientists have warned of imminent potential changes to ocean currents—such as the collapse of the Gulf Stream—that could drop temperatures by up to 10–15°C (3). Heat pumps, already less effective in older homes, would struggle even more in these colder conditions, further straining the grid. Promoting modern stoves (and good practices) now is essential to prevent a panicked return to high-pollution open fires or wet wood in crisis scenarios.

3/Conflict and Global Disruption
Geopolitical tensions can disrupt supply lines for gas, oil, or even electricity and battery supply. Locally sourced firewood offers households a viable backup if other energy sources become unaffordable or scarce.

4/Sustainable Forest Management
Positive wood-burning encourages responsible forestry practices—supporting biodiversity, reducing forest fire risk, and maintaining healthy woodlands. Co-heating solutions, combining wood stoves with renewables, offer a practical, eco-friendly path forward (4).

5/ Sensible Policy
In London, it’s estimated that around 70% of domestic wood-burning still takes place on open fireplaces, which can emit up to 90% more pollutants than modern, high-efficiency stoves (5). Converting those open fires to cleaner-burning models would dramatically cut emissions in the capital, while still preserving a vital, resilient source of heat.

Storm clustering is a growing concern

Increasingly frequent and severe storm clustering events underscore the need for robust, grid-independent heating options. One recent example is Storm Eowyn, the fifth named storm of the season, which made headlines with wind gusts recorded at 114 mph in Ireland and 100 mph in Scotland (6). Alongside other recent storms—Herminia and Ivo—Eowyn caused significant disruption to power grids, public transport, and everyday life.

Storm clustering is not just about a single event; it’s about multiple, potentially overlapping storms hitting in quick succession. These conditions can leave people without power for days, emphasising why a dependable heating source that does not rely solely on electricity is invaluable.

Wood stoves vs battery storage? A false dichotomy

Some anti-wood-burners propose battery storage as the alternative to wood stoves in emergencies. It’s not an either-or scenario; both can be valuable parts of a diversified, resilient energy system. In fact, combining a modern wood stove with battery storage makes sense:

•Wood stoves can cover your emergency heating and cooking needs
•Battery storage can then be reserved for essential electricity usage (e.g., lights, refrigeration, medical equipment) extending battery life.

Practical limitations of battery storage for a balanced perspective

•Reliance on Raw Materials
Large-scale battery production depends on finite mineral resources, often sourced from countries where labour practices may be inhumane. Reports suggest a significant percentage of key battery minerals involve child or forced labour (7).

•Limited Capacity
Especially in winter, when solar generation is low, a typical home battery may only provide electricity for a limited number of hours—insufficient for a prolonged power cut.

•Longevity & Disposal
Batteries degrade over time, raising questions about disposal

•Scaling Issues
Supplying enough batteries for every household in the UK is questionable at best, given raw material constraints, the costs involved and ethical concerns in supply chains.

During Storm Eowyn, high winds brought extensive power outages. Even a robust battery system would have struggled past a few days without sufficient solar recharge or grid backup. In contrast, a wood stove keeps a household warm and can even be used for cooking, allowing limited battery power to last longer for critical electrical needs.

Safety in extreme weather

In the rare event of a once-in-a-generation storm with winds above 100 mph, caution is advised during the peak of the storm—avoid using any open flues or appliances if conditions are this extreme. However, once the peak has subsided, a properly installed modern stove can safely and effectively provide heat, during the subsequent power outage.

•Up to 80 mph: A well-installed stove can typically be used with confidence.
•Above 80 mph: Storms of this magnitude are rare and usually short-lived. In some cases, it may be prudent to wait out the fiercest period before relighting.
•After the Storm: Power lines often remain down for days, as seen in storms such as Arwen (2021) and now Eowyn. Having a wood stove during that prolonged outage can be a genuine lifeline.

The solution: Positive wood-burning

Positive wood-burning represents a practical, balanced approach to energy resilience (8):

1/Move Away from Open Fires
Promote modern, Ecodesign-compliant stoves. This alone could reduce London’s wood-burning emissions by a dramatic margin.

2/Dry, Seasoned Wood
Use sustainably sourced, properly dried wood. Wet wood not only emits more pollutants but is also less efficient.

3/Enforced Standards
Ensure stoves are professionally installed and maintained to meet stringent safety and emissions requirements.

A sustainable future

Modern wood stoves are an indispensable part of a resilient energy system. They offer not only comfort and security but also a truly sustainable heating source, actively supporting local economies and responsible forest management. At Charnwood, we believe the future of energy must be grounded in balance—where practicality and innovation meet environmental responsibility.

As we deepen our understanding of air quality and emissions, we remain committed to refining and developing new stove technologies that further reduce emissions. This proactive approach ensures that wood-burning continues to evolve as part of the solution, not the problem. By investing in advanced systems and best practices, we can address environmental concerns without sacrificing the benefits that modern wood-burning brings to households across the country.

Britain’s energy future is undeniably uncertain, marked by volatile prices, climatic shifts, and geopolitical risks. Yet with responsible practices, cutting-edge innovation, and evidence-based strategies, we can safeguard modern wood-burning as a reliable, sustainable option for generations to come. It is this balance—between tradition and progress—that will enable us all to face the challenges of tomorrow with more confidence.

Sources & Further Reading

1/https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/emissions-of-air-pollutants/emissions-of-air-pollutants-in-the-uk-particulate-matter-pm10-and-pm25

2/https://www.centrica.com/media-centre/news/2025/perfect-storm-reduces-uk-winter-gas-storage-to-concerningly-low-levels/

3/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66289494

4/https://www.charnwood.com/news/the-role-of-sustainable-wood-fuel-in-woodland-management-insights-from-sandi-toksvig/#

5/https://stoveindustryassociation.org/consumer-advice/positive-wood-burning/

6/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0j7meyxyvo

7/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/23/revealed-uk-solar-projects-using-panels-from-firms-linked-to-xinjiang-forced-labour

8/https://stoveindustryassociation.org/sia-launches-positivewoodburning-campaign/

The Role of Sustainable Wood Fuel in Woodland Management: Insights from Sandi Toksvig

Author: charnwoodstoves

Published: 11 Feb 2025

Owning a woodland might seem like a dream scenario, with restorative walks among the trees and the peaceful sounds of nature soothing the soul. However, as Sandi Toksvig discovered when she became the custodian of a 15-acre ancient woodland, managing it responsibly requires hard work, knowledge, and a sustainable approach to maintenance.

One of the most eye-opening lessons Sandi shares in her recent video, produced by Cumbria Woodlands, is that sometimes, the best thing for a woodland is actually cutting down some of the trees and selling that wood as fuel. This idea may seem counterintuitive to some, but if you read on we’ll explain how this process can play a key role in maintaining a healthy, thriving ecosystem!

Why sustainable woodland management matters

Sandi’s woodland, like many others across the UK, had been left unmanaged for generations. Over time, this led to overcrowding, blocking vital light from reaching the forest floor and actually stifling biodiversity. Without active intervention, woodlands can become dense, dark, and imbalanced, limiting the growth of wildflowers, saplings, and the rich variety of wildlife that depends on a healthy, diverse habitat.

Good woodland management involves selective felling, which removes weaker, overcrowded, or diseased trees to create some space for younger trees to flourish. The question then is what happens to the wood that’s cut? Rather than letting it go to waste, turning it into sustainable firewood offers a practical solution that closes the loop, helping both the woodland and the wider community.

How selling firewood supports woodland health

One of the key takeaways from Sandi’s journey is the financial challenge of woodland management. Cutting, clearing, and maintaining a woodland can be very costly, and without a sustainable way to fund the work, it’s difficult for private woodland owners to keep up with the demands of proper stewardship.

Selling wood as fuel, allows woodland owners to generate some income to reinvest into their land—whether that’s for fencing, habitat restoration, tree planting, or hiring forestry experts. This helps to ensure the long-term sustainability of the woodland, making it not just an ecological asset but a financially viable one too.

At the same time, seasoned firewood from well-managed woodlands provides a low-carbon, renewable heating source, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. When sourced and burned correctly, wood fuel is a responsible, sustainable energy choice that works in harmony with nature rather than against it.

The community connection

Another insight Sandi shares is the importance of involving the local community in woodland management. After realising she needed help, she reached out to her village council and was met with an overwhelming response from locals eager to get involved.

Whether it’s through volunteer work, local firewood sales, or shared knowledge, connecting with forestry professionals, conservation groups, and community members helps to ensure that woodland management remains both effective and sustainable.

The benefit for woodland owners is they receive support in maintaining their land, while local residents gain access to responsibly sourced firewood, keeping homes warm with a renewable, local fuel source.

What we can learn from Sandi’s experience

Sandi Toksvig’s story offers a valuable lesson in woodland ownership. It’s not just about preserving a forest, it’s about actively managing it to ensure it thrives for generations to come. By embracing sustainable wood fuel as part of the management strategy, woodland owners can:

– Improve biodiversity by allowing light to reach the forest floor.
– Generate income to fund woodland conservation efforts.
– Reduce waste by turning felled timber into a valuable resource.
– Provide a renewable energy source that supports local communities.
– Encourage community engagement in responsible woodland stewardship.

A responsible approach to wood fuel

At Charnwood, we’ve long championed the benefits of responsibly sourced wood fuel. When used efficiently in a modern wood-burning stove, firewood from sustainable woodlands offers an eco-friendly, renewable alternative to fossil fuels.

By choosing locally sourced, well-seasoned hardwoods, you’re heating your home efficiently while supporting responsible woodland management and ensuring that our forests continue to flourish.

______

You might also be interested in reading:

An interview with a modern stove expert and woodsman exploring the real-life potential of renewables that promote our humanity and local green environment.

______

Acknowledgements

This blog draws inspiration from a video featuring Sandi Toksvig, produced by Cumbria Woodlands in collaboration with The Royal Forestry Society and Penfolds Forestry, with funding from the Forestry Commission Forestry Innovation Fund. You can watch the full video here.

Agape By Dammy Ponnuthurai

Author: charnwoodstoves

Published: 10 Feb 2025

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Corinthians 13 verses 2-3

February still finds us in the midst of winter, however with a glimmer of Spring and the promise of more daylight. It seems apt that the hope of seasonal change to brighter days falls in a month marked by a celebration of love. On the 2nd of February the Christian faith marks Candlemas, followed by the celebration of Valentine’s Day on the 14th. Traditionally, Candlemas speaks of the light that Jesus brought into the world, while Valentine’s Day is a celebration of romantic love. In the English vernacular, love is most commonly defined as an emotion, but in the Greek language there are seven definitions of love. One that spoke to me in particular is a definition that seems to encompass all what love should be: 𝑎𝑔á𝑝ē. This love is unconditional, and is offered as an intentional gift, not simply an impulse. Within this unconditional love, there is an intrinsic pull of empathy. In this definition of love perhaps there is a way it can be shared, not just with friends but also with strangers. In Michael Landy’s art project for London Transport, ‘Acts of Kindness’ he asked both passengers and employees to send in stories of small acts of kindness. Through this work he explored the shared connections that result from these kindnesses when individuals step outside the insular bubble that often happens on tube journeys. He says, ”Perhaps that’s partly because acts of kindness between strangers undermine the idea that we should compete and always strive to be independent. Instead, they’re an acknowledgement of our shared humanity. ‘This project is about feeling a sense of being connected to each other’. ‘That’s what “kindness” means – we’re kin, we’re of one kind.’ Agápē

Within the pressure of daily life, where certainty is the less travelled path, we may perhaps ask ourselves whether, in the midst of this choppy sea of life, we have time for empathy. The answer, it seems, should be a resounding yes. We are in the company of knowledge that shows that, whilst we are more connected than ever by our phones, we are yet more lonely and isolated. There are reports across all ages which describe a shared low in our combined mental health, with prevalent feelings of isolation. The small ways we can show ‘𝑎𝑔á𝑝ē’ to each could be a gift to anyone we encounter. Sometimes I am guilty of taking myself out of the moment too much for that to be possible. I will take a walk, and suddenly be distracted by my phone then fail to notice anything or anyone in my surroundings. This might lead to bumping unexpectedly into someone, or even a tree, if I am very distracted. But the real travesty I am learning is that this action of being dedicated to some kind of ingrained efficiency is losing the naturalistic moment of looking around me and having the patience and presence to engage with the people or dogs that I may encounter on those walks. Sometimes, it can be just taking enjoyment in overhearing a beautiful conversation. Often, those between small children and a parent are some of my favourites. One recently was with a four year old child trying to describe shapes to his mother. Another, walking past a primary school at lunch time, was the spontaneous greetings from pupils. There is a shared sense in those moments that makes me wonder; while we may not know each other, we are all together . It is a sort of unconscious gift giving, where in those simple mundane moments of life there is really such an elegance of just being so solidly ingrained in the here and now.

This sense of empathy for others can also be shown to the purchases we make for ourselves or for each other. When we really think about the objects we buy, beyond perhaps their beauty or their functional brilliance, we should consider the designers, makers and many other people who are involved in bringing us those items. . They may sometimes become invisible to us as we take for granted the many small processes that make our lives run effortlessly. If we take a pause then, from the preoccupations and goals of our daily lives, maybe we can make one this February just to stop, look, listen and reach out even with the gift of something as simple as a smile.

Distraction by Dammy Ponnuthurai

Author: charnwoodstoves

Published: 05 Feb 2025

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”. John 14:27

Some days, it is impossible not to feel the pervading anxiety of the long to-do list of life, not only the one in front of us, but all those other things we may have forgotten. In 2024, we are surrounded by an ever increasing mass of information and there is always a pervasive anxiety about what we might be missing. Friends recount films, books and podcasts all of which hold infinite interest to me, but when will I find the time to watch, read or listen to these nuggets of recommendation? There is also a sense of guilt that comes with this. I find myself feeling a sense of how little I know about anything. However, so much of our days are spent quite trivially, and it is hard not to be subsumed with day-to-day living, with its strain of rich information that doesn’t allow much time for thinking more holistically about the concerns in the world we all share.

There is some ingrained richness within me from the privilege of childhood time spent with my dad wandering around museums, libraries and bookshops. So now in my middle years, just glancing through a bookshop makes me realise how much of life is spent distracted from thoughtful silence and learning. A friend visited Edinburgh Fringe this year and listened to a set from a comedian who jokes that between the school run, and when he was supposed to be writing he was really responding to messages and social media. A whole day can be spent not getting to the point. The addictive nature of feeling connected via our phones makes them a relentless force in our day-to-day living.

We may simply say the answer here is to switch off our phones and create good routines. I appreciate and don’t discount the advice of every health and lifestyle guru here, but being as I am like a small child at Christmas, I always want to take a peak. Alongside this there is also the happy act of multi-tasking that our phone has given us. It is no longer like the 1950s when dictating a letter was a singular task in itself. We now find ourselves in a time when the cat is out of the bag, and our phone has given us the infinite pleasure of multi-tasking and thinking about or exploring so many things at once. It’s almost now a quest to hit the go slow key, or imagine that life is built on steps. Like stepping stones across a river, the pathway is not straightforward and you have to concentrate in order not to slip.

There are, however, the beginnings of a realised backlash. Schools such as The Ormiston Academy, which runs 42 schools in England, are prohibiting the use of phones at school so that pupils can focus on their learning and teaching. There are cases though where parents have found this difficult, for instance, those children with health needs where the app on a phone works to manage a child’s diabetes. In these moments we can see how technology has worked so effectively as a pairing partner to live our lives more safely and with time sensitive efficiency. The danger though is that these advancements are perhaps making our ability to make intuitive judgements harder, as we are so focused on precision rather than feeling the moment.

Perhaps we can look to animals for a little guidance here. It is said that, for instance, a dog’s sense of smell not only sits with what is current in the world of smell but also smells from the past all wrapped together heightening its enquiry. There is something so interesting about the sensory focus, many a dog owner will tell you that there is no such thing as a quick walk as dogs want to stop and smell everything. Maybe we could all take a leaf from that book, as we light a candle or a fire during the colder nights, just allowing ourselves the time to absorb our immediate environment and see what our surroundings can imbue in us, unaided by any kind of external information or entertainment.

As we give pause to our distractions, that in itself brings us the peace to stay still and be held in the moment by the lightest of touch, anxiety-free and content.

5 Minutes with artist Mark Lazenby

Author: charnwoodstoves

Published: 05 Feb 2025

Mark Lazenby – “Fired Up” Collage

1. It sounds like you were a collector of random objects since childhood, which you carried around in a bag. Was this an intuitive interest or did you grow up in a household where objects were discussed and thought of in terms of origin and making?

I think a lot of it was intuitive and that we all have a natural affinity to certain things. I grew up in a household that was filled with creativity, my father was an engineer and my mother a musician so a real mix of the technical and the heart. I don’t remember ever discussing particular objects or any process of making but just being surrounded by projects, ideas and music has deeply informed how and what I do. I think that within me I have this love of doing things well and I have always felt that I am both artist and designer, sometimes stuck between the two not knowing which I am. This has also left me a bit of an anomaly to others as I don’t necessarily fit in any box, but I am making peace with the fact that I’m both.

When I was younger as soon as I could walk I would carry around an object in each hand, or a bag filled with things I found. These were often not toys but anything from plastic drawing curves (I still can visualise these green acrylic curves) to a hammer! This lead on to me collecting all kinds of things from beer mats to plastic Christmas cracker trinkets. These things were all free or of very low value so I could collect them easily, this then has informed what I cherish and use within my collage work; sweet wrappers, postcards, magazine images. Things that are easily overlooked or thrown away, unloved things that are mass produced or beautifully badly printed these things are treasure to me. I still get that joy of discovering a beautiful scrap of paper on the street or in an antique shop it doesn’t matter to me where I find it. For me it’s all about a certain quality or feel, which is why all my work is made of real things (not digital elements) it has to feel right or I won’t use it.

I have also been drawn to logos and graphics from an early age and would sit and draw the tails of airplanes and collect plane tickets when family members travelled, or stick beer mats to my cupboard doors. Objects can have a real magic whether they are high or low in value or culture. I believe that we imbue these things with meaning, comfort and value. This is where I think my artworks come from imbuing paper with feeling, meaning and spirit even if it’s just for me. This I think is deeply linked to my collecting over all the years.

2. It’s said that Terence Malick in his film The Tree of Life, created a collage effect of moments in his scenes. Do you visualise your collages from observations in real life?

I think it’s a real mixture of real life observations and the imagined, but mainly I think it is the opposite of real life, an escape and running towards what seems impossible, higher, beautiful and escaping real-life laws and confines. This is why I gravitated towards the surrealist artists as a teenager and have kept this love of their work throughout my life, because it uses the everyday to transcend the everyday. Like Rene Magritté’s painting “Time Transfixed (La Durée poignardée)” with a train flying out of a fireplace or Joseph Cornell’s sea drift objects placed side by side in a box they have this magic that lifts us from where we are or what the objects were intended for. These everyday items can be given new purpose and meaning.

We all distil ourselves into the things around us and our lives get soaked into photographs, songs, art etc, these things are simple objects but they become so richly full of memory and meaning that they become priceless and so emotive. We all do this, we all create in this way, whether it’s intentional as art or not. We are all creators, we can all draw, paint and do whatever we like.

Mark Lazenby – “Set a Fire in my Heart” Collage

3. You mention that a lot of your work begins with words, are there any writers or art with words that particularly influence you?

My work all starts with an internal dialogue and this is mainly through my time in prayer and reading the Bible. It is how I process where I am at and directing all of myself and energy to God. A bowing down of self, a laying down of everything. I especially love reading the biblical Psalms and Proverbs and these speak to me every day and have made their way in to many of my collages. The Psalms are so rich in joy and praise but also ranting and despair, I find immense comfort in this fact that the writers feel what we feel, struggle with what we struggle with and that that’s ok to voice to God and each other.

We are all sacred and profane, broken and fixed, dust and eternal.

My work is an outpouring of this, the battle. If I don’t give it to God and explore it in paper I don’t function at all.

The words filter through and become a heart cry, a yearning, a song, a poem and then I try to interpret these into visual versions. This again is where I try to imbue the paper with all that’s going on internally. I also find immense satisfaction in the physical creating of my collages, the processes, the hunting for the right elements to create how I feel, what I’m thinking. I make them for me to understand, but I also want to make them as offerings to God, worship.

Artists using words within their work that I especially love: Kurt Schwitters, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Corita Kent, Cy Twombly, Peter Blake, Tom Phillips, Joe Tilson, Eduardo Paolozzi and too many pop artists to name!

Over the years I have been inspired by many writers and poets in my work: Hermann Hesse, Albert Camus, Franz Kafka, Gabriel García Márquez, Paul Auster, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, W.H. Auden, Stéphane Mallarmé, C.S. Lewis to name just a few.

4. David Lynch in his thoughts on death, states he sees life as continuing. Do you find that the layers of life are helpful to explore through collaging?

This again touches on what I’ve mentioned in the previous question. For me the creation of a work is the way I start to understand God’s love, cope in the world, process what I’m going through, pour it out, externalise the internal. So I think it’s vital for me to make my collages, when I don’t get time to make I feel lost and not myself at all.

I have recently been struck by the fact that we are all immortal beings. I believe that we are all eternal. We all have a choice through Jesus to live continually in God’s presence or eternally separate but then knowing He is the one. Time is short and God loves us all now, this love wants to be with us throughout eternity we only have to say yes. This quote from C.S. Lewis is wonderful: “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal… it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit”.

The call now is to love God with our everything and to love each other. This is my greatest desire and to also make what I can on any given day. I wouldn’t function without my faith, my family and my collage.

5. How would you encourage anyone with a novice interest in collaging to begin?

Creating is such a personal thing but I think it’s about tapping into what makes you you, what you love, what you have a natural connection to and then just exploring it, making a mess, making things that don’t work and when you keep going you develop your own language and you then stumble across your thing. For years I thought that I should create other work, not just collage and that it wasn’t enough. I tried to draw, to paint but I kept on being called back by the collage and I’ve learnt that for me that is enough, that collage is me. There are no rules, we complicate everything for no reason, we don’t want to look stupid or like we don’t know what we are doing. No one knows what they are doing! There are no rules. So find the things you enjoy, the things you find affinity with and run with them. Get some glue and some paper and find out what you love.

I mentioned before, Corita Kent who was a brilliant artist, teacher, Jesus follower and social justice advocate. Up on my studio wall is this wonderful list she put together that I often remind myself of and find immensely helpful when I get a bit tangled up:

“One: Find a place you trust, and then try trusting it for a while.

Two: General duties of a student: pull everything out of your teacher; pull everything out of your fellow students.

Three: General duties of a teacher: pull everything out of your students.

Four: Consider everything an experiment.

Five: Be self-disciplined: this means finding someone wise or smart and choosing to follow them. To be disciplined is to follow in a good way. To be self-disciplined is to follow in a better way.

Six: Nothing is a mistake. There’s no win and no fail, there’s only make.

Seven: The only rule is work. If you work it will lead to something. It’s the people who do all of the work all of the time who eventually catch on to things.

Eight: Don’t try to create and analyse at the same time. They’re different processes.

Nine: Be happy whenever you can manage it. Enjoy yourself. It’s lighter than you think.

Ten: We’re breaking all the rules. Even our own rules. And how do we do that? By leaving plenty of room for X quantities.

HINTS: Always be around. Come or go to everything. Always go to classes. Read anything you can get your hands on. Look at movies carefully, often. Save everything—it might come in handy later.”

6. You are shortly part of an exhibit called ‘Little Lights’ at Paul Smith which opens on the 14th of February. Can you tell me a little about your pieces in the show?

Paul Smith is someone that I have admired for a long time and have had the pleasure of spending some time with over the years. He is so enthusiastic and genuinely interested in people and all that he creates, you can’t help liking him and being energised by his joy for everything good in life. So when I was invited by Katie Heller (Art & Exhibition Manager at Paul Smith) and Nico Kos Earle (Curator & Writer) to take part in the ‘Little Lights’ group exhibition at the Paul Smith Space I jumped at the chance.

The collage pieces that I’m showing all have elements based around the theme of light. So a number of them are celestial with star references and the others have fiery elements like the sun or campfires. Two of the pieces that I’m showing have directly come about from my friendship with Ced Wells (A.J. Wells Director) and have been used for some recent publications of theirs, one for Vlaze’s ‘Fired Up’ zine (that I also was able to design) and the other ‘Set a Fire in my Heart’ for the covers of Charnwood’s 2025 Calendar and their new stove brochure. Both of these works started around the theme of fire. “Fired Up” was all built around the idea of gathering together, cooking al fresco, celebrating around a fire, eating and having fun, with an atmosphere of classic mid-century design and a nod to Slim Aarons and the Californian West Coast light. “Set a Fire in my Heart” has a narrative of walking through woods and returning to a cosy fire, with references to the Isle of Wight, water and faith. Ced was brilliant to collaborate with on these from start to finish. Their manufacturing business has fire at its core from the wood-burning stoves they make through to the beautiful vitrified surfaces fired in their huge furnaces. I love what they create and the ethos of the company as a whole, so again when I was asked to work on these I was thrilled.

In total, I have around eight pieces in the exhibition and it runs from February 14th to April 20th 2025, Paul Smith Space, 9 Albermarle Street, London, W1S 4BL.

To see more of Mark’s fantastic work visit his website here.