Sculpture
Meadow Pipit
The Meadow Pipit is a common nesting bird on the North York Moors, and its high piping calls a familiar sound. They feed on the ground, mostly eating flies, beetles, moths, and spiders, and in autumn and winter the seeds of grasses, sedges, rushes, and heather. They also build their nests on the […]
Rooster
Kirkham Priory On the way back from delivering a sculpture recently I stopped at Kirkham Priory. I’ve driven past before and noted it as a place I’d love to go back to and explore. The entrance is through an impressive stone gateway, with a Gatehouse, all richly decorated with fine figure sculpture and […]
Wren Fledglings
Such commotion and excitement surrounded the emergence of the Wren chicks from their nest in the stone store at my workshop. As they disperse, the parents become more and more vocal in encouraging them to a safe place and shouting warnings, and the chicks louder and louder in demanding food. They’re so vulnerable at […]
Froghoppers and Spittlebugs
I saw this insect crawling up a grass stem and just to be sure looked it up to see what it was. I’ve seen lots of them lately – Froghoppers. This one has a body that is shiny black, with bright red markings. The colours serve as a warning to predators of their unpleasant […]
Meadowing exhibition
Today in the studio I’m putting finishing touches to these moths and butterflies, ready for my Meadowing exhibition at Mortall Gallery in Barnard Castle. The small collection of stone sculptures for the exhibition are pieces inspired by the meadow and grassland surrounding my workshop. This year the meadow has been exceptional, the grasses have […]
The Yawning Kestrel
This year Kestrels have again nested at my workshop – using the Barn Owl nest box. About a month ago I had thought I heard the smallest chick sounds, and since they have got louder, and the stomping in the box more frequent. In fact, these chicks have been the noisiest I have known […]
Swifts over the meadow
The swifts are hunting for insect food to take back to their growing young and I see them flying over the meadow and hear their screeching in the late evening. What extraordinary and special birds they are. This is a standing stone I’ve carved with a simple Swift in flight outline cut through the […]
Otter in Repose Sculpture
Otter in Repose sculpture carved in Yorkstone. Just completing the finishing touches to my Otter sculpture. When ready, it is going to live somewhere rather special …… The sculpture shows an otter curled up in a reclined pose, with the tail neatly wrapped around its body. Though relaxed and resting, Otter is still alert […]
Shrubbery Bird
Birds love shrubs. Here there’s a rather tangly, unmanaged shrub area, but it is always full of birds and insects who seem very happy with my casual gardening style. The woody shrubs and climbers provide food for wildlife, including berries, fruits, seeds, nuts, leaves, and nectar-rich flowers. The shrubbery also provides shelter and breeding […]
Shakespeare called it a ‘dive-dapper’
I know this bird as a Dabchick, or Little Grebe – a chubby diving waterbird whose habitat of marshes, ponds and lakes supply all the insects, molluscs, tadpoles, small fish and reptiles that it can eat. They’re birds that tend to stay hidden in the reeds and vegetation, but when I’ve seen them, (and […]