Garden

Yellow Bird

  During the Big Garden Birdwatch 2020 I was reminded of Lines Written in Early Spring by William Wordsworth.  I couldn’t remember it all, but do recall The birds around me hopped and played, Their thoughts I cannot measure:- But the least motion which they made It seemed a thrill of pleasure. And so it […]

In the Workshop today – Little Bird

  Around the workshop a restless Wren is busy darting about, and when the door is open comes in to check for lacewings and spiders to feed on.   Although they’re highly territorial birds, during winter months, and especially when it is bitterly cold, they roost together, several dozen huddled together for warmth.  It’s lovely to […]

Harrogate Spring Flower Show 2020

  In April this year I’m exhibiting at the Harrogate Spring Flower Show – the show will provide an inspiring platform to showcase some of my larger sculpture, and new pieces for the garden.   I’m also taking a little range of pots and planters and unique artistic one-off pieces. Harrogate Flower Show is a […]

‘Grits’ Vase

  This stone is known as ‘Grits’ – a short-form for Millstone Grit. Millstone Grit is the name given to any of a number of course-grained sandstones of Carboniferous age which occur in the British Isles.  The name comes from its use in earlier times as a source of millstones for use principally in watermills. […]

On this new morning

  Happy New Year   On this new morning, at the very beginning of this New Year, and new decade, I wish you Happy.          

Festival of Winter

  Though it doesn’t seem very winter-like, weatherwise anyway, I’m feeling now quite in the mood to celebrate the Winter Festival season. After the shortest day, there’s a feeling that we’re pulling away from the darker months, but of course it takes some time before we can notice a difference.  For me, it is certainly […]

Marble Vases in Festive mood

  There’s a very soft scent of pine resin lingering on my hands from selecting a few festive fronds from the garden – heavenly!  For me these natural little touches of seasonal green and berries bring huge cheer and a warm Christmassy feel. Shown here in timelessly elegant and luxurious marble vases. View The British […]

In the Workshop today – Birds wait

  Birds wait in the winter landscape for me to finish their birdbath, and fill it with water.   Here’s one of them on a fence post at the workshop, watching the sun rise as I chisel away inside. They waited patiently for their water until I delivered the birdbath to its new home and we […]

My Supporters and Collaborators

  Sometimes weeks and months can go by without me really noticing.  I’m concentrating, making, carving, deliberately quiet, thoughtful.  Today on my walk to the workshop the sun was warm, despite a deeply frosty night and it gave me the sense of feeling very open and awake.  I collected some little stems from the hedgerow […]

They’re called Shining Stones

  British marble is rare – the only true marbles are quarried in north-west Scotland.  The scarcity of indigenous marble meant that European marbles were imported for quality decorative work.  This was an expensive exercise so alternative sources of special stones were sought, and local hard sedimentary limestones were exploited.  These native British ‘marbles’ were […]