Sculpture
Snowdrops carved in stone
I’m working on Snowdrops, carving them into riven slate – I’m excited that my chisel leaves pale marks, helping to give the impression of white flowers. It seems a marvel that they manage to push their delicate heads above ground in snow, frost, and flood, but they’re especially well adapted to life in the […]
Bear thoughts
As I carve and the bear shape sculpture emerges I’m thinking about the Medieval Bestiary and the bear illustrations in manuscripts, and how different my idea of bear and how I would like it to look, is. The Bestiary describes that their general attributes include eating honey, but can only eat the apples of […]
Polkadot – cat sculpture
Recently I was commissioned to carve a sculpture of a cat called Polkadot, so throughout December and into January I carved away bringing feline features into a piece of Yorkstone. To the memory of Polkadot. You can see details of the carving process and the finished piece here.
Little Bird with ivy
I’m quite a fan of ivy, I know not everyone’s favourite, but there are so many benefits to wildlife in having thick clumps of it, as ground-cover or clambering its way up walls, buildings or trees, that I allow it pretty much free ramble. The ivy in the garden is providing wonderful, and essential […]
The Rockefeller Owl
What an extraordinary story this is – the Christmas tree ordered for the Rockefeller Centre in Manhattan, New York City arrived and when workers were unwrapping and installing it, they found a small owl hiding in the branches! It appears as if the owl, a Saw-whet owl, had travelled some 200 miles in the […]
Partridge Sculpture
Partridges are forever connected to the Pear Tree, from the Twelve Days of Christmas carol but really they’re ground birds. I watch them often here at the workshop as they visit regularly and do like to find a vantage point as a ‘look-out’ post, usually a block of stone, or the workshop roof (where […]
Tall Owl
Tall Owl is tall and slender, appearing to be stretched up as if standing on tip-toe, and wearing I think a rather surprised expression. This sandstone owl sculpture is part of a collection just delivered to Watermark Gallery in Harrogate for their Christmas showing. They’ve opened early, to make the most of the last […]
Artisans Bazaar Birds
In the next few days, my sculpture will be delivered in readiness for the opening of the Artisans Bazaar at The Gallery by the Lakes, Dorchester. I’m so pleased with my little collection – there are twelve pieces – all birds, small enough to be carried home easily, with the idea they’ll make perfect […]
In the Workshop today – Partridges
There’s a growing bevy of partridges at the workshop – stone carved ones, and also the wild birds themselves, that seem to like to gather around my sheds. Other collective names for Partridge are bew, covey, jugging, and warren. I seem to be working in multiples, indeed in flocks, at the moment. It is […]
Mortall Gallery exhibition
At the beginning of November a brand new gallery – Mortall Gallery in Barnard Castle – opens the doors to its first exhibition. Next week I’ll be delivering sculpture for this inaugural show. I was approached a little while ago by David Hall, the gallery owner (and also an artist) about exhibiting with […]