I'm pleased that you have found a gouge to experiment with. I think it will be the most enjoyable option and if you read the grain right you can take off big chunks in the early stages. Most trade chippies would have had a gouge or two in their kit. Even if they never did any curved work, gouges were useful.
For example, one way to scribe skirting is to first cut a mitre to get the line, then rather than use a coping saw on the moulding, use a gouge from the back to sneak up on the mitre line.
The palm tree trade mark belonged to Mawhood of Sheffield, 1863 - 1959.
And thanks for the extra info on Hepworth. It makes sense.