Blog
A Bird in the Bombweed
There are long stems of Rosebay Willowherb growing just now, the best colour here at the workshop by far. Most everything else is going golden, or brown, or gone over completely. The tall pink flower spikes of Willowherb can often be seen grouped together in bunched stands in open spaces, such as woodland clearings, […]
New Collection for Tutton & Young
This is a little preview of one of the sculptures – Garden Bird with a long tail – which you’ll be able to view online this weekend where a small collection of new pieces will be available from 9 am on Saturday morning as part of the amazing Tutton & Young MADE Makers show. […]
Missing the Meadow
All around the hay fields are being cut and the smell of drying grass is heavenly. The mowing and baling happen so quickly it is taking me a little while to adjust to the new landscape. To the east of the workshop, one meadow remains, I’m not sure why it has been left to […]
I believe in birds
Along the honeysuckled lane, I ran to where the little bird pairing began, and there I understood at last why I had come so far, so fast. On every branch of every tree a fledgling perched, ready to fly for me. I’m still watching my birds closely, especially the young taking their first […]
Garden Birds
All the to-ings and fro-ings, flitterings, flutterings, and fledglings of garden birds has been something to behold. I’m trying not to anthropomorphize as I watch the stories of these bird families unfold. Nature is urgent and intense, survival urgent, and reproduction urgent. The strength and vigour of these cycles are captivating and potent. I […]
Summer Begins
What a day to fledge – as if in celebration of the summer solstice – my Pied Wagtail chicks at the workshop flew the nest into a gloriously warm, sunny day. Everywhere I turned there seemed to be a startled, calling, fresh-feathered fledgling. Though they are still demanding of their parents for food, I […]
A bird who likes roses
The hedgerows at the moment are bursting with wild roses. I think they’re Dog Rose – familiar for scrambling and climbing with five large pink or white petals, many stamens and a faint sweet smell. One grew at the base of my Sycamore tree and now it reaches up into the branches and tumbles […]
Birds at my Workshop
This time of year is is a spectacular frenzy of birds, everywhere hungry mouths to feed and first flights for fledglings. I count myself very lucky to have a number of birds that have chosen to make their nests and raise their broods here in my work sheds. It means I can watch their […]
Contemporary Bird Sculpture
From what bird’s flawless design, I do not know, but oh – its simple, quiet elegance. Inspiration from the natural world – Jaggy Tailed Bird sculpture- Sandstone – 9″ x 4″ x 7″ Shop Jaggy Tailed Bird
In the Workshop today – otter carving
The stone is warm from the heat of the sun and I’m trying to keep a clear head as I work the details of my otter sculpture. This refining and making of small alterations at this stage of carving can have an enormous impact. The chisel, with the smallest cut, may change the character, […]