Blog
Tall and elegant stone Birdbath
At this time of year I’m always busy making birdbaths, which I love, as I know the joy of watching birds flit to the bowl rim, sip water, or take the plunge for a full, splashy bath. What a joy it is to watch. All my birdbaths are individually made by hand in a […]
Lick into shape
The illustration on the front of this little book drew me to it, and then when I read the spine ‘Animal Carvings’, I couldn’t resist. It is by M D Anderson, who also wrote The Medieval Carver, and was published in 1938 by Cambridge University Press. Medieval thinking was very different, and understanding it […]
Gold Leaf
Stone finials and balls have been effective decoration on buildings and structures for hundreds of years and have gone in and out of fashion in gardens over the centuries too. I’ve always loved them as a styling feature – on top of gateposts, as a finishing touch to a wall, as a support for […]
In the Workshop today – dry dust
When I first started working stone I used to go to the stone-dressers’ sheds at the quarry and watch them working to see if I could glean any tips. Hours of rythmic, neat facing of stone, pitched edges, punch faced walling and curved coping stones. At the end of the day’s shift, tools were […]
Breaking rocks in the hot sun
Phew! Tools resting in the heat – actually it is me taking a break, gone to find some shade to cool off.
Stone Carving at Rural Arts
Rural Arts are based in Thirsk in the town’s former Courthouse and Magistrate’s House which was renovated, making a bright creative centre for the area. As well as the activties hosted at The Courthouse, it is also used as a base for a range of workshops and events which are taken out into the […]
A reward for not weeding
A nettle patch at my workshop grows gargantuan, along with willow-herb and the thugish Hogweed – they’re all fighting with dock and bramble! My plan was to clear the area, and I even set aside time to do it, but found it so full of insects, crawlies and caterpillers that I left it to […]
Forest Snail
Did you know that most land snails have a shell which spirals to the right? I’ve been looking closely at a shell as I’m carving one in stone. The central tip of the spiral is the shell that the snail was born with – when it emerged from its egg. As its soft body […]
Out on Lastingham Knoll
If I walk a few hundred yards of steep hill out of Lastingham village, I’m on the moor. A track leads out along Lastingham Ridge with spectacular views over Spaunton Moor, all of which is part of the greater North York Moors. I wanted to clear my head, and the air up here is […]
Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens – exhibition
Chips are flying and new sculpture is taking shape. The weeks before an exhibition are always exciting – even if there’s a bit of a frenzy in the workshop getting sculpture finished on time. Nothing like an exhibition deadline to galvanise arms into action and focus the mind. This is Bird in a Tree […]