Ashwin Ramhith was born and educated in the sugar town of Stanger on the KwaZulu Natal North Coast and obtained a BA degree in Human Movement Science from the University of Fort Hare. After graduate school, he was an educator and then embarked on a business career in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

Ashwin started turning wood under the guidance of professional woodturner Nico Swart who has had the greatest influence on his work. Nico has since then been a mentor and continually assists him with design, inspiration, technical aspects, sourcing raw materials and equipment.
More of time and energy has been devoted to woodturning as he has found it a pleasurable way to express himself.  He attended a master class given by prominent UK woodturner, Mick O’Donell.

Ashwin’s specialty is unique “One of a Kind” handcrafted wood turned art. His work is an expression of himself and has evolved into a Creative Wood Artist after learning the art of Woodturning.

He is a member of Port Elizabeth Woodturners Guild [PEWG], Association of Woodturners of South Africa [AWSA] , American Association of Woodturners [AAW], Grahamstown Woodworkers Group [GWG] & a few others.

Ashwin has exhibited on numerous occasions at some of the biggest Interior & Home Décor exhibitions in South Africa. He has been selected to represent South Africa in Portugal, Brazil, South Korea & Germany at International Handcraft exhibitions & Trade Shows. He was one of 19 crafters selected in 2009 as a “Hidden Treasure” of South African craft by Tourism Enterprise Partnership.

Currently, he has been focusing more time and energy on resin inlay in face plate turning with an Out of Africa theme. His work is in private collections both locally and abroad. His Resin pieces are in the permanent collection of the South Africa Embassy in South Korea & Portugal. He has done commissioned work for the Office of the President, University of Fort Hare, Eastern Cape Development Corporation, Miss World beauty pageant in Sandton & many more.

Ashwin’s other interests are rock & surf angling {when time permits}, surfing the net, golf and round table charity work. He has been Captain of Fort Beaufort golf club for several years and the Chairman of Fort Beaufort Round Table 62.

ACHIEVEMENTS & AWARDS

2011:
•    Commissioned work for Sikatonga Tribal Art
•    Work exhibited at Spier Hotel - Stellenbosch
•    Commissioned work for the Office of the President
•    PEWG Chairman’s Award – Coastland Sales Trophy
•    Collaboration exhibition at Cupboard of Love
•    Commissioned work for the Minister of Human Settlements
•    One of 15 Artists exhibited at the PEWG Turned Wood Art Exhibition
•    Commissioned One of a Kind pieces for Tourism Enterprise Partnership
•    Work selected for the artEC 92nd Annual Exhibition
•    Featured in the Weekend Post on the 13 August


2010:
•    Selected by the Department of Trade & Industry to exhibit at the Ambiente, Germany – 9 to 18 February 2010
•    Work was selected for the front cover of South African Handmade collection brochure in Ambiente, Germany & the Top Fair magazine in Germany
•    PRO of the Association of Woodturners South Africa for 2010
•    August, work published in The Home Handyman magazine
•    Invitational Demonstrator at Association of Woodturners South Africa Annual Congress in September 2010
•    Commissioned work for the Eastern Cape Development Corporation
•    Hosted and presented the first Pen Turning workshop in the Eastern Cape Province
•    Commissioned work for Sikatonga Tribal Art
•    Commissioned work on Spalted woodturnings for the University of KwaZulu Natal microbiology department
•    One of eight artists selected by the Department of Trade & Industry to exhibit at the Design, Wine & Food Fair in Hyde Park – 24 to 29 November 2010
•    Received a favourable critique from overseas guest turners Andi Wolfe & Trent Bosch at the AWSA Congress
•    Invited demonstrator at PEWG October meeting on Texturing, Carving & Surface enhancement
•    November, write up in The Home Handyman magazine
•    One of two artists from the Eastern Cape selected for TEP/ECTB tourism mentorship programme
•    Awarded the Nkonkobe Municipality Community Builder of the Year award for Recreation 


2009:
•    PEWG Best Spindle Work - Strand Hardware Trophy
•    PEWG Open Section - Rarewoods Trophy
•    PEWG Chairman’s Award - Coastland Sales Trophy
•    Commissioned work & invited to demonstrate at the opening of the Eastern Cape provincial Craft Hub in Dimbaza
•    Selected by DTI to exhibit under the South African Handmade Collection at Decorex Cape Town
•    Invited to attend the Design Brief Summer 2009 colour trend workshop
•    Received Award of Excellence from  Decorex Cape Town
•    Selected by the Department of Trade & Industry to exhibit at the Ambiente,Germany
•    Presenter at Grahamstown Woodworkers Group April meeting
•    Identified by Tourism Enterprise Partnership as a Hidden Treasure of South African unique crafts
•    Represented South Africa at the International Handicraft Exhibition which is held in Lisbon, Portugal from 27 June - 5 July 2009
•    Selected to represent the Eastern Cape Province at Decorex, Johannesburg
•    Work was one of five pieces selected by Sue Heathcock to be exhibited at the South African Handmade collection entrance at Gallagher Estate


2008:
•    Commissioned work for Eastern Cape Development Corporation
•    Presenter at Grahamstown Woodworkers Group April meeting
•    Editor of Port Elizabeth Woodturners Guild Newsletter
•    One of 15 Companies selected to Exhibit in Seoul, South Korea for South Africa
•    Commissioned work for University of Fort Hare Alumni
•    Invitational Demonstrator at Association of Woodturners South Africa Annual Congress in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal
•    Selected to Exhibit at South African Handmade Collection in Gallagher Estate, Midrand
•    Featured in North Coast's biggest newspaper - Stanger Weekly [April]
•    Article in Grocott's Mail - South Africa's oldest independent newspaper
•    Write-up in AWSA April 2008 Turnaround
•    Consulted with specialist designer and stylist Josef Greeff
•    Participated in Design Brief Summer 2009 presented by Karen Nebe
•    Commissioned work for the Premier of the Eastern Cape & the Minister of Arts & Culture
•    Had an exclusive feature in the July 2008 edition of The Home Handyman magazine
•    Article in the June edition of AWSA newsletter called Turnaround
•    South African Handmade Collection bowls on display was viewed on "60 Minute Makeover'' on Dstv Home Channel
•    Featured in the Editors Notes and article in September 2008 edition of the “The Home Handyman".
•     Department of Arts & Culture selected work to be exhibited at the 2008 Art Mundi, Sao Paulo, in Brazil from the 3 - 12 October 2008


2007:
•    PEWG DunDonald Trophy – Best Spindle Turning
•    PEWG Keith Taylor Trophy – Best Face Plate Turning
•    PEWG James Nash Trophy – Open Category
•    Exhibited at the AWSA 2007 Congress and received a crit from Butch Smuts {SA}  & Bonnie Klein {USA}
•    April, work published in “The Home Handyman” magazine
•    Entered Spier Contemporary 2007
•    Exhibited at the Laughing Feathers Art Gallery
•    Commissioned work for the Department of Justice
•    Exhibited at  East London Fine Arts Society Miniature Exhibition
•    Exhibited at Manzikanya Safari Lodge [Overseas hunters]
•    Exhibited at Chintsa River Golfing Estate Art Exhibition
2006:
•    PEWG James Nash Trophy – Open Category
•    PEWG Keith Taylor Trophy – Best Face Plate Turning
•    Resin inlay bowls selected for EPSAC Annual Exhibition
•    Received a favorable crit from world famous woodturner Stuart Mortimer {UK} during the 2006 AWSA Congress instant gallery critique. My work was one of six pieces highlighted for originality and uniqueness.
•    September,  work published in “The Home Handyman” magazine


2005:
•    Runner up PEWG Intermediate Face Plate Section
•    Runner up PEWG Intermediate Open Category
•    Work selected for EPSAC Annual Exhibition
•    Merit Award Face Plate work


2004:
•    PEWG Coastland Sales Trophy – Best Face Plate Turning
•    PEWG Laser Tech Trophy – Participation League
•    April, work published in “The Home Handyman”


2003:
•    Exhibited at Ezama Xhosa Crafts
•    Merit Award Drift Wood Turning
•    Merit Award Face Plate Turning
•    Merit Award Lidded Box


2002:
•    Exhibited at Strand Hardware Wood Fair
•    Merit Award Spindle Work