Grayson Chesser

Since his early childhood, Grayson's life has been steeped in a love of nature. Hunting and trapping were family traditions, and the young man quickly developed a deep appreciation for the natural world and his place in it.

The land on which Grayson and his family now live has been farmed since the 1600's when it was first owned by a William Anderson. In 1912, Grayson's great grandfather purchased 50 acres where his house now stands and, in 1918, Grayson's great great grandfather bought the neighboring farm. His grandfather lived in the house on the farm until the 1960's and his father continued to work the land until his death in 1970.

Grayson graduated from Old Dominion College in 1968 with a business degree and the same year that his father died, he wed his wife, Janet Dawn McCready, and the couple bought the house and barn on the property. They eventually inherited a portion of the farm from his mother, and, in due course, Grayson purchased the remaining portion of the land from a cousin.

His father was also a game warden and, when he died, Grayson, in addition to running the farm, assumed his father's position with the State Game Commission between 1970 to 1974. He also began to advertise his services as a guide. During this period, he started to carve in earnest while continuing to work the farm and, in 1982, with growing success with his decoys, they finally rented out their land and he began to carve full time.

Grayson's interest in carving began as a young man and, when he was 12, a family trip to the Shelburne Museum in Vermont was the key moment that got him seriously interested in carving decoys as a career. His early education in the art consisted of reading and re-reading Eugene Connett's Decoys and How to Carve Them". He soon met and befriended Miles Hancock who, he admits, "took him under his wing". Additional guidance came from noted regional carvers Lloyd Tyler, 'Cigar' Daisey and the Ward brothers.

Since these early beginnings, he has gone on to achieve national stature in the carving community. He has appeared in the PBS series "On the Waterways" which featured 'Cigar', Mark McNair and himself. He has had two major exhibits at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC and in 1995, he co-authored a book - "Making Decoys the Century Old Way".

His awards and distinctions are many including being named "Master Folk Artist" in 2003 by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. He has been past chairman of the Havre de Grace Decoy Show and has served as "Artist of the Year" for numerous Ducks Unlimited Chapters. Throughout his career he has mentored a number of young carvers and he is most proud of his association with Cameron McIntyre who started to visit his shop when he (like the young Grayson so many years ago) was only twelve.

Today, he can live his childhood dream, carving, as well as running the Holden Creek Gun Club for guided duck and goose hunts. An avid conservationist, he and his wife have placed their property in the hands of the local land trust where it will be protected and enjoyed for years to come.

"It meant something to me that the land had been in the family for generations. I'm glad to see when I'm dead and gone it's better than it was when I got it. It's taken care of us for hundreds of years and I want to take care of it."

Grayson Chesser is one of the most respected carvers of his generation, being trained by the likes of Cigar Daisey and the Wards. This gadwall has fine wing relief carving.