Garden
The Early Bird
The Early Bird garden sculpture. There’s such a feeling of energy with leaf buds appearing on the trees and signs of growth and greenery. The garden calls. Birdsong, seedlings, tidying and compost digging – all in the Spring sunshine and accompanied by a following of small garden birds, singing and searching in the newly […]
Big Garden Birdwatch 2025
Enjoying being part of the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch again this January. I’ve seen already Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Wren, Pigeon, Crow, Jackdaw and heard the Buzzard. Also a special treat five Grey Wagtails feeding in the adjacent field. They’ve been there over the past few days, along with a flock of Redwings and Fieldfares. […]
Sculpted Shell-shaped Birdbath
Sculpted shell-shaped Birdbath with graceful fluted rim carved in fine Yorkstone. Stages showing the detail and process of carving the natural stone shell-shaped Birdbath from a block of raw stone through roughing out, shaping and finishing the surface of this garden sculpture. Shell Birdbath garden sculpture – Howley Park Sandstone – 24″ x 20″ […]
Preparations for Garden Festival
Lovely pieces are being finished at the workshop just now, ready for the Borde Hill Garden Festival. As part of the range of garden features I’m exhibiting, are these handsome planters – hand carved as a matching pair in fine Yorkstone, drilled for drainage and ready for magical planting ideas. At the Festival you’ll […]
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 […]
Pumpkins and Butterflies
What an inspiring time of year for shapes – the plant and fruit forms of Autumn are exciting. The season for Pumpkins and seed heads. Throughout history it seems artists have been inspired by the abundance of apples, pears, pumpkins, squash, corn and chestnuts – all so visually attractive. I’m reminded of the Autumn […]
Leaf Birdbath
Sculptural Leaf Birdbath complete with perched bird carved in natural stone – 34″ x 23″ x 13″ For my recent show Beautiful & Useful at Sussex Prairies Gardens I popped this Birdbath on a plinth and it created a handsome and much admired feature – especially with the wonderful backdrop of the dramatic Amaranthus […]
Goldcrest bird sculpture amid Wisteria
Goldcrests carved in Yorkstone with gilded crown in pure gold leaf. The fragrance of the Wisteria floats in through the open back door. It has grown vigorously this last week and is now laden with the purple shades of its spring flowers – so beautiful, and today resplendent in the sunshine. I couldn’t resist […]
Pikorua sculpture for New Zealand Garden
This weekend was the re-opening celebration of the New Zealand Garden in Valley Gardens, Harrogate and unveiling of the garden’s new sculpture. The New Zealand Garden has undergone a refurbishment, part of which was to include my Yorkstone carving. The sculpture, a commission through Harrogate International Partnerships, is a Pikorua, a Maori symbol representing […]
Birdsong
With the lighter mornings I’m hearing the beginnings of the dawn chorus. There was a very sketchy start by a Blackbird this morning, but it soon got into its stride. Just as bird songs are taking shape in the garden, bird sculptures are forming in the workshop. This new one also enjoying the early […]