Blog
Preliminary sketches for sculpture
Sculpture often begins with drawings. These quick, scratchy sketches help to clarify the pose, rythm and feel I would like in my sculpture. Also, in looking closely at the bird, to draw it, I learn exactly how it is made up – how it holds its wings, how the feathers lie, what happens […]
Stone carvings at West Tanfield
There stood a little tower, with a very pretty oriel window of six lights with tracery and a pyramidal stone roof, beckoning me to explore. The 15th Century, three storey gatehouse is known as The Marmion Tower and is presumed part of a no longer existing manor house which stood close to the banks […]
Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows
About this time last year I was planning my week long trip to Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows. Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows lies at the heart of the Nene Valley, one of the most important wetlands in England and an internationally important stop-over for thousands of wildfowl and waders. Bordering the River Nene, the marsh […]
The Sun is High
Happy Summer Solstice There’s lots of talk about the Strawberry Moon this year on our longest day – but I’m happy with late evening sun and a Barn Owl flying overhead.
A frenzy of fledglings
It is so busy at the workshop just now with birds free from sitting on nests frantically attempting to manage their broods, fresh fledged and wide-eyed. My pair of blue-tits, who nested in the corner of my shed, encourage their young with constant calls and example flights upwards. One baby took its first flight […]
Hammer easy in my hand
Weight. Balance. Rhythm. Sound. Handle smooth and comfortable from wear. Hammer easy in my hand.
Scramble and Tumble
Plants have personalities don’t they – this one seems to love stone and has gorgeous habits when the two are combined. The little Bellflower (it takes its name from its bell-shaped flowers) loves to clamber over, up and between. It looks wonderful scrambling between pavings or climbing up a wall, or tumbling over the […]
Dry Stone Wall Maze
The Dry Stone Wall Maze will be situated at the heart of Dalby Forest. The four outer most walls of the maze will measure eighty metres in length each and the walls will stand six feet two inches high. Visitors will follow a short path through the forest to the maze. The entrance into […]
Walled Kitchen Gardens and Medicinal Plants
What a delight and pleasure it is to arrive at Scampston Hall Walled Garden on a balmy summer’s evening. Sometimes the beauty of plants and gardens makes you cry doesn’t it? I couldn’t help it, more than once my eyes filled up with tears – I pretended to be scrutinizing bees in the borders […]
Kestrel company
When Kestrels are around you jolly well know about it. They’re noisy birds. I saw one on my way to the workshop in early March, further down the lane and was pleased, having not seen them here before. By late March they were close-by, sitting on fence posts, and obviously checking me out. At […]