Blog
Slim Sliver of Hare
Sliver of Hare – carved in English Alabaster – a small piece measuring just 4″ in length. Most of the colouring in the stone is at the Hare’s head and rather aptly echoes the tumult and frenzy Hares exhibit come Spring time. So many of the special qualities of Alabaster fit with the myth […]
In the Workshop over Easter
Witton Fell Hare takes shape in the workshop this Easter – I’m working over the long weekend which also coincides with the change to British Summer Time. No time to lose, we lost an hour! The Hare of course is long associated with this time of year and so it is fitting to be […]
Spring stems, Spring begins
On the first day of Spring I was treated to the sound of Pied Wagtails. A pair back and forth chirruping from the workshop roof and fence post. I’m always hopeful they’ll return and nest here – so with any luck they’ll like what they see and stay. I also heard the low humming […]
Borde Hill Garden Festival
Sedimentary Pot – one of the pieces I’ll be showing at Borde Hill Garden Festival in June. The markings in this sandstone are really striking, showing all the sedimentary layers of gritty texture. I’ll be exhibiting a small collection in this stone, of pots, planters and vases alongside new garden sculpture. Full details – […]
Little Hushwings
I spent some time over the last month setting aside some Ancaster Limestone for carving my small Barn Owl sculptures, the Little Hushwings. They’re now all chiselled to shape and sanded for an impeccable finish. Although I follow the same form for each one made – they’re every bit individuals, and of course every […]
Nightjar Sculpture
A number of years ago I went out on a Nightjar watching evening. Once we arrived at the site I found a tussock of heather and made myself comfortable. And watched, and waited. We were surrounded by trees and rough upland terrain, which gradually became indistinct as the light ebbed away. But still I […]
Vixen Cub
Fox sculpture carved in Fell Sandstone – a Vixen cub sitting in the Spring morning sunshine on mossy tree roots on the edge of Hagg Wood. March is the peak month for fox cub births, though it will be a few weeks before they emerge from the den. They’re born blind and deaf […]
The Moorhen at Oldfield Pond
I’ve come to this pond to watch wildlife many times – here it is in Winter, looking a little bleak – but as we come into Spring the edges fill with rush and reeds and its inhabitants re-appear and it is teeming with activity and life. For as long as I can remember a […]
Diving Bird Sculpture
Diving Bird – carved in Serpentine stone showing the sleek outline typical of all Diving Birds found in UK wetlands. The streamlined curves help these birds – the Great Northern Diver, the Red-Throated Diver, the Black-Throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Black-Necked Grebe, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe and the Cormorant – become exceptional swimmers both […]
Elswick Rabbit
Rabbit sculpture carved in Elswick Grey Sandstone. This fine-grained blue/grey sandstone is lovely to carve and in every way suitable for the soft finish and shape I wanted for this small Rabbit sculpture. The darker streaks are coal flecks running evenly throughout the pale grey and give this sandstone its distinctive character. […]