Appalachian collection
Independence, Virginia
New River
Woodcrafters
Handcrafted Along the New River.
Personal stories, favorite places, and meaningful memories—carved into wood and finished by hand.
- Made in
- Independence, VA
- Specialty
- Detailed wood reliefs
- Each piece
- Carved & hand-finished
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Wildlife reliefs
Memorial pieces
Home portraits
Personalized gifts
Featured work
Stories with depth.
Selected pieces that show the range of subjects, woods, and detail possible in a custom carving.
Memorial work
Ranger
A one-of-a-kind tribute built around a faithful companion's story.Wildlife
Deer Family
Layered forest depth, fine fur detail, and a warm hand-applied finish.Custom House Portrait Collaboration
Some projects are made even more special through collaboration. I’m pleased to work with Lilly of PrimeDepthStudio, whose creative work helps make our custom house portraits possible.
From Lilly, PrimeDepthStudio:
“I’m delighted to collaborate with Dan Horton of New River Woodcrafters on creating custom wooden relief portraits of customers’ homes.
My role in the process is to transform a customer’s photograph into a detailed 3D relief design and STL file, carefully capturing the character and architectural details that make each home unique.
From there, Dan brings the design to life in wood. He personally selects the hardwood, carves each portrait, and hand-finishes the piece to create a lasting keepsake for the customer.
Dan’s craftsmanship, attention to detail, and care for each individual project make New River Woodcrafters an ideal partner for bringing these designs into the physical world. I’m proud to have my digital artwork become part of a handcrafted piece that families can enjoy for years to come.”
— Lilly, PrimeDepthStudio
The gallery
A closer look.
Every subject asks something different of the wood. Tap any image to see more detail.
Guitar & Fiddle
Music in relief
Squatch Off
A playful one-off
Bear at the Window
Wildlife relief
Monsters of the Movies
Vintage poster relief
Hummingbird & Hibiscus
Botanical relief
Freedom Isn't Free
Service tribute
Bear on the Rock
Deep relief study
Welcome to the New River
Live-edge sign
Sapele Soap Dishes
Small functional pieces
Angel Relief
Detailed 3D relief carved and hand-finished by New River Woodcrafters.
From wood to finished art
The detail is earned.
A finished carving is the last step in a patient process—preparing the stock, shaping the depth, refining the small details, and applying the finish by hand.
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01Prepare the wood
Select, flatten, and size the stock so the grain serves the finished piece.
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02Build the depth
Remove material in stages while protecting the forms that give the scene dimension.
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03Refine the detail
Smaller tools bring out faces, fur, lettering, foliage, and the quiet lines in the background.
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04Finish by hand
Clean, inspect, sand where needed, and apply a finish chosen to honor the wood's natural color.
Dan Horton Craftsman • Outdoorsman • Photographer
Photograph by Olivia M. HortonAbout the craftsman
Made by the river. Shaped by the outdoors.
I'm Dan Horton, the hands behind New River Woodcrafters. I'm a craftsman, outdoorsman, and storyteller who believes wood holds more than grain—it holds meaning.
The mountains and rivers of Virginia, time spent outdoors, and years behind a camera have shaped the way I notice details. Woodworking is another way to slow down, pay attention, and tell a story worth keeping.
Every piece is carved along the New River with care, patience, and respect for the wood and the person who will treasure it.
Seen locally
At City Gallery in Galax.
Selected New River Woodcrafters pieces are on display at City Gallery in downtown Galax, Virginia—a local home for art, craft, and the stories of this region.
The current display brings together wildlife reliefs, Guitar & Fiddle, and the Appalachian journey panel.
Visit City Gallery online citygallerygalax.com
Custom orders
What story would you put in wood?
Share the subject, the meaning behind it, and any photos or wording you want included. From there, we can talk through the size, wood, design, timing, and finish.
1
Tell me the idea
A person, pet, home, place, sign, or memory.
2
Plan the piece
We'll settle on the shape, dimensions, wood, and details.
3
Bring it to life
I carve, refine, finish, and keep you informed along the way.