This badass woman makes art with a chainsaw, no big deal

Hey, watch where you're pointing that thing!

Griffon Ramsey knows what she's doing. The artist is jetting over from the US to take part in this weekend's Scottish Open Chainsaw Carving Championships, at Carrbridge in the Highlands.

Should spectators expect a Carrbridge chainsaw massacre?

That's not the image organisers are aiming for. The annual event, known as Carve Carrbridge, is billed as a family day out. "Although it is a niche art form, I think it has a tremendous potential for growth," Ms Ramsey told the BBC. "Chainsaws are getting lighter and more manageable, allowing more women to participate."

How long has she been wielding one?

Four years. Her works include carvings of Groot - a character from Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy - and figures from the children's book Where The Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak.

What's wrong with paper and pencil?

"The idea of creation through destruction appeals to me - cutting out what doesn't need to be there to reveal the things that matter," Ms Ramsey said. "The longer I do it, the more I enjoy the carver lifestyle."

Can anyone have a go?

Overseas carvers must document their experience with a chainsaw, while British carvers must produce a copy of their certificate of competence in the maintenance and use of chainsaws - and they must also have public liability insurance for £5m.

(Picture via Katie Jo Dixon)

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