Blog
Beautiful & Useful Fair
Today I received the flyers for the Beautiful & Useful Craft Fair at Sussex Prairies where I’ll be showing my ‘beautiful and useful’ stone pieces on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 September 2021. The event partner is The English Garden magazine, so look out for details there as well (they’re running a ticket competition […]
Otter in Repose Sculpture
Otter in Repose sculpture carved in Yorkstone. Just completing the finishing touches to my Otter sculpture. When ready, it is going to live somewhere rather special …… The sculpture shows an otter curled up in a reclined pose, with the tail neatly wrapped around its body. Though relaxed and resting, Otter is still alert […]
Shrubbery Bird
Birds love shrubs. Here there’s a rather tangly, unmanaged shrub area, but it is always full of birds and insects who seem very happy with my casual gardening style. The woody shrubs and climbers provide food for wildlife, including berries, fruits, seeds, nuts, leaves, and nectar-rich flowers. The shrubbery also provides shelter and breeding […]
Shakespeare called it a ‘dive-dapper’
I know this bird as a Dabchick, or Little Grebe – a chubby diving waterbird whose habitat of marshes, ponds and lakes supply all the insects, molluscs, tadpoles, small fish and reptiles that it can eat. They’re birds that tend to stay hidden in the reeds and vegetation, but when I’ve seen them, (and […]
The Life of the Shrew
I’m reading a lovely little book The Life of the Shrew by Peter Crowcroft. He was in charge of the Mammal Room at the British Museum from 1956 and was a foundation member of the Mammal Society of the British Isles and observed and studied shrews for many years. I see and hear shrews […]
Oolitic Bird
Ooli Bird for short. This bird sculpture is carved in Ancaster Weatherbed Limestone, which is an oolitic limestone (hence the name) – a sedimentary rock formed from ooids (spherical grains) bound together with calcium carbonate. But that is all rather technical. In any event, the stone’s formation is what gives rise to the wonderful […]
Short-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl – carved in Yorkstone. They’re impressive owls when you catch a glimpse of one! Short-eared Owls hunt during the day, so can be spotted occasionally here on the North York Moors flying low over the heather, on fence posts, or in the rough moorland grass. It breeds here too, nesting on the […]
Grey Goose for Spring Made Makers
I’m showing this new small sculpture, Grey Goose, at the Tutton & Young Made Makers online Spring event. Grey Goose is carved in Howley Park sandstone and measures a neat 6″ x 5″ x 6″. Made Makers is an online event – the site goes live at 7 pm on Friday 9th April – […]
Peep Egg
A Peep Egg vase for Easter. I made this vase based on the design of a Victorian optical instrument, which was affectionately known as a Peep Egg. This personal viewer allowed one person to view a still image through a glass lens in the top. More complex versions were equipped with many openings and […]
Spring Bird
Bird sculpture carved in marble with the most delicate colouring, perfectly reflecting the freshness of new spring blossoms. Spring Bird – Rosa Marble – 6″ x 1 1/2″ x 1 3/4″