Wildlife
Garden Birds
All the to-ings and fro-ings, flitterings, flutterings, and fledglings of garden birds has been something to behold. I’m trying not to anthropomorphize as I watch the stories of these bird families unfold. Nature is urgent and intense, survival urgent, and reproduction urgent. The strength and vigour of these cycles are captivating and potent. I […]
Summer Begins
What a day to fledge – as if in celebration of the summer solstice – my Pied Wagtail chicks at the workshop flew the nest into a gloriously warm, sunny day. Everywhere I turned there seemed to be a startled, calling, fresh-feathered fledgling. Though they are still demanding of their parents for food, I […]
Birds at my Workshop
This time of year is is a spectacular frenzy of birds, everywhere hungry mouths to feed and first flights for fledglings. I count myself very lucky to have a number of birds that have chosen to make their nests and raise their broods here in my work sheds. It means I can watch their […]
Contemporary Bird Sculpture
From what bird’s flawless design, I do not know, but oh – its simple, quiet elegance. Inspiration from the natural world – Jaggy Tailed Bird sculpture- Sandstone – 9″ x 4″ x 7″ Shop Jaggy Tailed Bird
In the Workshop today – otter carving
The stone is warm from the heat of the sun and I’m trying to keep a clear head as I work the details of my otter sculpture. This refining and making of small alterations at this stage of carving can have an enormous impact. The chisel, with the smallest cut, may change the character, […]
Rustic Birdlets
Every band, line, swirl and mark combine to enliven and make each bird unique. These Birdlets are plain and simple in style, each carved from a solid piece of colourful Yorkstone with distinctive natural iron ore elements running through. Birdlets are contemporary in feel with a rustic beauty. When visiting the quarry I select […]
Birds in the Ancient World
Isn’t it just a wonderful thing when you get engrossed and ‘lost’ in a book? At the moment I’m completely absorbed by Birds in the Ancient World – Winged Words – by Jeremy Mynott which explores the Greek and Roman worlds over a thousand years through their relationship with birds, from medicine to […]
Hailstorms, Sunshine and Birds
Hailstones batter the workshop roof, the wind gusting them in swirls. Moments later the sun shines. It is the cycle of this morning. Between each stormy bout the birds appear and resume their activity, some brave the hail battering anyway to forage and feed. And sing. And court and pair. And flit and wag. […]
In the Workshop today – Lapwing sculpture
I can hear Lapwings calling as I carve. A couple of weeks ago I saw a sole bird and rejoiced its return to my little area of the North York Moors – Lapwings nest in the fields above my workshop. The wind was high, and the Lapwing was buffeted in the sky, and I […]
Bird Sculpture – a pair of Quails
Quails are distinctive due to the combination of their stocky bodies and long, pointed wings. Their upperparts are brown, streaked and barred with buff, while their underparts are a warm, buffy orange. In the UK they are a migrant bird and can be found in low-lying parts of northern England as a summer visitor. […]