Born in 1953, owner and master-craftsman Dwayne Thompson has been living, playing and working near Timpson Creek his whole life. He fondly remember days of riding motorcycles and camping out in the woods that surround his gallery.

Thanks in large part to two influential high school teachers, Dwayne first developed his drafting and woodworking skills in shop class. He later polished these skills at North Georgia Technical College in Clarksville. After school, he was hired by a local furniture company to turn artists' sketches into complete drawings and build prototypes.A few years later, he went out on his own and opened Timpson Creek.

At first, he never turned down a job "comin through the front door, "whether it was sawing a log in half or replacing an ax handle. Over time, more work came in and Dwayne began building his own furniture, but still with a traditional feel. Feeling uninspired working with straight lines and straight boards, Dwayne started creating pieces that combine traditional rustic styles with modern elements of geometric patterns and repeating designs. Around this same time, he married Cecile, a former high school teacher who now helps run the gallery.

To create his original works of art, he begins with a simple sketch. From there, he selects his materials, most of which are leftovers and stuff others have thrown away. He began a stockpile of unusual pieces of wood and scraps, and now his inventory includes everything from tree stumps to old paintings. Dwayne can spend anywhere from a week to three months on particular piece. Just to keep his mind working, he often has several pieces being constructed at once. Always the perfectionist, he often reworks a piece several times until it is just right.

Long ago, he decided the best policy was "to treat your customers like your mother," and it's worked for him ever since. He enjoys seeing customers come back and take pleasure in his one-of-a-kind creations.

Dwayne and Cecile have one teen-aged daughter, Anne Neal.