About the Artist

     Willem Bernhard van der Heyden immigrated to the United States in 1957 from Holland.  He has always displayed artistic talent, winning the National Gold Key Award for painting while still a student in high school, leading to a full art scholarship which was subsequently forfeited for military duty.

     Throughout his life, he has worked with various media, but found his niche in wood designs.  His most recent works showcase his passion for music.  With a rare combination of creativity and craftsmanship, the artist magically captures the essence of music and uses his fine sense of composition and harmony to intricately weave this into his designs.  His creative style conveys a European influenced expressionism projecting what he feels through his artistry.

     Using select woods he handcrafts each original piece and applies a clear satin finish to the final work, allowing the natural beauty and richness of the wood to come through, adding warmth and dimension to each composition.

     These unique pieces consistently win "People's Choice" awards and "Best of Show" in juried exhibits and are in private and professional collections across the continental United States.