By Chris Story

Last updated at 12:38, Thursday, 18 September 2008

Artist David Parkins has a burning desire to make that final farewell a poignant, personal one.

Title
Author
Copyright

Description

He wants to turn his hobby of wood burning into something more – by burning specially-chosen images on to people’s coffins.

The Carlisle security worker has joined forces with city funeral directors Geo Hudson and Sons to offer his services to grieving relatives and friends.

He believes adding an image the deceased loved best could help make their funeral more personal.

Among the things the innovative artist could emboss are copies of favourite photographs or images of pets.

David does not believe anyone else in the country does this kind of work, which he has dubbed “Artburnz”.

Before burning an image on to the wood, he first draws an outline by pencil.

Although he has always enjoyed drawing, David did not try wood burning until he saw the equipment on an American website.

David, who completed a sign art course at Carlisle College, said: “I used to make house signs, drawing them by hand and painting them.

“I am always looking to do something different.”

David can also burn designs on to leather and most types of wood. Images could also be burned on to house doors or nameplates.

Hudson’s, of Wigton Road, also offers other personalised coffins, including those bearing Carlisle United’s colours and emblem.

Bruce Harris, of the firm, said: “It looks good. What we are doing is saying to people that if they want an image burned on to a coffin, then we can do that.

“He can also do religious symbols.

“So long as coffins are environmentally friendly the list is endless about what you can do to them.”

First published at 11:43, Thursday, 18 September 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk