About

My work falls into three main categories: dry-stone sculptures, carvings and landscaping/paving; often a project involves more than one of these. To me it is important that a piece of work is not imposed on its location, but that it has a real connection with it, a connection that may be drawn from the physical properties of the site, (hills, birds, trees), from an aspect of the client’s own life, or from the site’s history. I tend to find that the dry-stone sculptures relate more easily to the physical nature of the site, while carvings adapt themselves to a client’s interests or character.

I like to liaise closely with my customers on the design and siting of the piece, especially for outside or garden pieces. I have a fondness for siting my sculptures in slightly unexpected places, perhaps hidden in some trees or just over a rise in the ground – but sometimes the best place is the most obvious one.

While I have my favourite materials and my own approach to a piece, I am always keen to listen to my client’s ideas, especially if there is a particular reason for the commission - as a memorial for instance.

The smaller carvings can be tricky to position since they are often of an intermediate size, but usually a window sill will be successful, with its sideways light accentuating the shadows in the carving. Larger carvings do well outside, the gradual weathering of the stone adding to interest as the years pass.

Cobbling and paving are, unsurprisingly, more constrained as far as positioning goes, but the scope for imagination is enormous and I can incorporate all sorts of designs – geometric patterns, organic shapes and depictions of leaves, feathers, birds and so on.