Kelly works with reclaimed wood, stone and paint. He is self-taught and has only been carving for 8 years, but has gained a proficiency that comes from a deep relationship with the material and his subjects.

"The Celts appeared out of the mists of Europe's pre-history to indelibly mark western art and culture in their own unique way that was different from the Mediterranean cultures of Rome and Greece. There is something familiar and compelling about Celtic music, dance and art that resonates within many diverse cultures, from west to east and south to north. In other words Celtic Art transcends people or place: it belongs to us all. It is this inclusive spirit that I am trying to communicate in my own Celtic Art."

Kelly carves into the wood with a knife or cuts the design with a cut-off wheel, and then files or sands the design to refine it. At this stage he stains the wood heavily with an alcohol-based stain and saturates it with linseed oil, varsol and japan dryer to preserve the wood and keep it from warping. The design is then over-painted with a water-based paint (acrylic or latex) in 2-3 coats.

24 hours later the surface is scuffed with sandpaper to accentuate the relief in the carving, and reveal the texture in the wood. A further coat of stain is applied to modulate the brightness of the colours and 2 - 5 coats of varnish are applied, and hand rubbed between each coat. The final step is waxing.