WRITING
I’ve written short stories throughout my life and have attempted several novellas and novels, although the bulk of my writing output has gone toward a fantasy project called Sarturus. In 2023, I completed an MA Res thesis on Earth-centred sacrality in the works of Lord Dunsany and J.R.R. Tolkien. Prior to that project and after it I have been writing essays and stories.
VISUAL ART
My two main mediums are pencil and clay. I’ve also created digital paintings with Photoshop and pixel art with Aseprite. Starting as early as 2007, I learned to model 3D game assets (trees, creatures, weapons, etc.) using 3DSMAX and Zbrush. I’ve also animated in 2D (Flash, pencil and ‘claymation’) and 3D (Maya). From an early age I engaged with several small independent game development and ‘modding’ teams, to which I lent my art and design skills.
COUNTRYSIDE/PRIMITIVE SKILLS
This particular entry is one for which it’s difficult to provide an overview. My background in ecology and my interest in prehistory blends together with my engagement in rural/bushcraft skills, so I consider this to be more of a broad change in perception rather than a collection of hobbies or creative pursuits. If I were to think in such a way, this category might include everything from knife modification to leather working. I might also mention such skills as coppicing, hedge-laying, fence construction, thatching, and pole lathe work, the majority of which I learned during my time studying countryside management and wildlife conservation or volunteering at Butser Ancient Farm. Special projects I took part in during my time at the Farm include carving out a Mesolithic log boat (using fire, antler picks, bone adzes, shells, scapulae), building a huge wickerman, and learning parts of the bronze smithing process. I’ve also attended bushcraft meetups dedicated to learning primitive or traditional living techniques, e.g. fire-making and natural cordage construction.
I practiced wood carving for a considerable time, making utensils, crook knife cases, flutes, and a variety of other useful objects. My most intensive project was a kuksa, a Scandinavian drinking cup.
*Though it may appear strange to fashion Barad-dûr out of a homely spoon, I imagined that the rustic nature of Middle Earth was reclaiming the megalomaniacal tower (and it was a simpler shape to carve).
VIDEOGRAPHY
My primary video project is The Other Side, a place for book reviews and discussions about nature and heritage.
I also run The Ecological Citizen YouTube channel:
I’ve made many short films over the years, albeit in a casual capacity. The above image is from a short teaser for The Land Itself, which title was later applied to the first novel in my Sarturus fantasy stories.
I’ve also created films utilising various scenes from other films and my own recorded footage.
I’ve also been involved in the production of “machinima”, which are films made using assets within game engines, along with the usual suite of video and sound packages.
SINGING & RECITATION
I enjoy singing in a variety of styles, most notably classical and folk. I also have a passion for reciting stories and poems. I run Tolkien Memorised with my twin. This project involves reciting Tolkien’s songs and poems by heart in natural settings, such as at Glen Coe. See this compilation:
WEBSITES
I’ve managed several websites over the years. The most substantial of these was Oakenwise.com, launched in 2013. Although sadly no longer accessible, this site featured articles from contributors from the UK, the USA and Canada on topics ranging from canoe building to prehistoric music and linguistics. In the same year, I started a blog, The Birkin Tree, which was dedicated to ecology and fantasy. This ran from 2013 to 2017.
“COMMUNITIES”
In the past, I’ve enjoyed creating communities in virtual reality. This primarily takes the form of roleplay in guilds, clans or societies within online worlds (MMORPGs). In World of Warcraft, for example, I was the leader of The Wildland Society and Tree & Leaf Travel, two groups dedicated to understanding and exploring the landscapes of Azeroth. With the help of friends, I created various in-world documents and designs, e.g., heraldry and codes of conduct.
Taylor Hood 