Polinyà, Barcelona —
Fran Ferrer (Albalate de Cinca, Huesca, 1972), based in Polinyà (Barcelona), has become the only blind woodturner in Spain, and he does so with absolute dedication to his lathe and his craft. His story is not only inspiring, but also a powerful testament to the therapeutic and transformative value of craftsmanship.
In 2016, a diagnosis of bilateral optic neuropathy left him blind. That loss could have sidelined him, but everything changed during a craft fair in Vallgorguina, where he witnessed a woodturner in action. “It was at that moment that I decided to buy one,” he recalled. Since then, Fran not only resumed his love of woodworking, but also made it his refuge: “The lathe has been my best psychologist,” he confesses.
Under his motto “Shavings of Illusion,” he founded the first Catalan association of woodturners and shares his knowledge with blind people and enthusiasts through talks, meetings, and individual classes. His profile expanded internationally: he was an international lathe demonstrator, with invitations to Brazil, Argentina, and Puerto Rico before the pandemic.
In 2023, he received the Master Craftsman Diploma in recognition of his career, officially awarded in Albalate de Cinca—his hometown—thanks to his outreach work from his workshop in Polinyà.