lena savvidou craftwork4all

Eleni Savvidou

I am a primary school teacher and musician with a passion for singing—I play piano, take vocal lessons and participate in a choir. I also have a deep love for creating by hand. My artistic practice centers around materials like wood, stone, and acrylics, though I often experiment with a range of textures and elements.

What excites me most is that every piece I make has its own story—inspired by different moments, feelings, or discoveries. I enjoy working with mixed media and often use materials I collect during walks and excursions. These are then processed and integrated into my work. I’ve also worked with metal, felt, and other materials. At school, I design stage sets for performances, using mostly recycled items and various techniques.What makes my work unique is the ever-changing inspiration behind it and my interest in storytelling, and creativity in both art and teaching.

I work mainly with wood, driftwood, and stone, which I transform into decorative or functional pieces that reflect who I am and what inspires me, using acrylics and clear varnish to protect the result. My favorite technique is painting on wood and giving new life to natural materials like driftwood and stones—turning them into something completely new, such as wall art, candle holders, or key racks.

I’ve been practicing this craft for the past 6–7 years during my free time, though I often engage in creative projects at school as well. I started working with wood because I love its natural texture and character, and I’m drawn to the fact that no two creations are ever the same. Each piece carries its own form, story, and purpose, and that’s what makes the process exciting every time.

 

Craft projects

Eleni Savvidou craftwork artpiece1

Cacti

The piece is called Cacti and is a mixed-media wall artwork on sea plywood, painted with acrylics. It features hand-worked driftwood and hand-painted brick pieces found on Greek beaches, smoothed by the sea. The materials are arranged to resemble stylized cactus forms, each chosen for its texture and story. Cacti reflects a playful yet grounded connection to nature, turning seaside fragments into a vibrant, imaginative composition.

Eleni Savvidou craftwork artpiece2

a small village scene

This 40×40 cm artwork is painted with acrylics on sea plywood. It features a composition of reclaimed old wood, hand-worked to resemble houses, alongside driftwood and wire. The piece blends natural textures and vibrant paint to create a unique, tactile representation of a small village scene.

Eleni Savvidou craftwork artpiece3

Dream Tree

This artwork is created on sea plywood, painted with acrylics, and finished with a transparent water-based varnish. It features a three-dimensional minimalist design with handcrafted metal elements securely integrated into the piece.

Eleni Savvidou craftwork artpiece4

Cliff House

A hanger, key holder, and decorative piece. Made from wood, metal, and unique driftwood collected from the beaches of Eastern Crete, it minimally brings to life a house perched on the edge of a cliff. Painted with eco-friendly chalk paints, sealed with special wax and finished with transparent water-based varnish.