Blog

The Nuthatch – a very endearing bird

  Last year was a bit of a Nuthatch year for me. During the Big Garden Birdwatch at the beginning of 2017, it was the Nuthatch I sketched.  Little did I know then that the pair at the feeders were to nest in my old Sycamore tree, and raise young, that year and last year […]

Happy 2019

    H a p p y   N e w   Y e a r          

New Year’s Eve celebrations

  My geese join me in a little New Year’s Eve celebration at my workshop as the light fades on 2018.  I’m tidying and putting things in order in readiness for a new year beginning.  We sat until it was quite dark, remembering, reflecting, rejoicing and  looking forward to bringing dreams and plans and sculpture […]

Feature in the Yorkshire Post Magazine

  Chris Bond, Editor of the Yorkshire Post Magazine and photographer Gary Longbottom spent an afternoon here at my workshop exploring, chatting and taking images for a little feature they were proposing about me and my sculpture. Today it was published in the weekend Magazine – what a lovely way to round off my busy […]

On Christmas Day in the morning

  Its not a conventional white Christmas, no snow, but it is misty white, a blanket of thick fog, soft white, cloudy white.  I’ve lit candles, carols play, mince pies are ready and there’s a gentle resinous smell of pine needles. My very best wishes to you for a Merry Christmas         […]

Stone Carving Courses 2019

  I’ve just confirmed dates for my two day Spring Stone Carving Course here in Lastingham. Spring Stone Carving Course   Saturday April 27th and Sunday 28th, 2019 10.0 am to 4.30 pm each day   There’s lots of information about the course, what will happen over the two days and plenty inspiration from carvers […]

Through a Nature Photographer’s eye

    I was drawn to her stunning images the first time I saw Alyson’s photographs.  In a way it isn’t surprising as she combines her love of nature with art, so we already have a quite lot in common.   Alyson Fennell is a Fine Art Nature Photographer, she is also a keen gardener, […]

Nobles of the Woods

  This holly tree has the most beautiful pimpled bark.  Clusters of nodules and wrinkles which I think tell of its age.  Nature writer Roger Deakin describes the burrs and bumps on trees as being “like pearls in oysters”. They’re fascinating – some looking almost like fruit.  Are these from insects, or environmental pollution – […]

Objects of Remembrance

  The First World War Centenary   One hundred years since the end of the conflict.  To be honest I find it difficult to imagine what it must have really been like during those war years.  All of us have family stories passed down, told, re-told – generations affected.  I suppose it is impossible to […]

Inside Outside – Yorkshire Sculpture Park

  The Yorkshire Sculpture Park is always a place I enjoy exploring and spending time, but I haven’t been for ages.  Yesterday, in the glorious October sunshine, I made an impromptu brief visit.   The parkland looked magnificent, and so did the sculpture. Of course I was bound to be drawn to Sean Scully’s exhibition Inside […]