Specialist carving of Story tellers and Bardic Chairs. Previous clients include many private works, local government, councils, schools, Cadw and the Woodland Trust.
I am motivated by creating a piece of sculpture that is true to form and full of life. The carving process for me is part of the artistic journey. I may have an idea how an ancient piece of aged black bog oak may turn out, but as I carve the wood itself has its say. I think that is when creativity really takes flight and is the most rewarding for me and what I make.
I love the natural world and particularly but not exclusively – the wildlife of the British Isles, the birds, animals, and its heritage influence my work. I believe those things are really beautiful in their own right, and if I can capture that natural beauty, and hint at a bit of a story within, I feel content. I work in wood – all kinds and bronze, and other metals, and stone and glass. Often producing multimedia sculptures. I make:
- Small netsuke carvings such as my little praying church mouse, and a curled up sleeping dormouse, to largescale sculptures: An orangutan with her baby, two blue tits feeding from the top of a milk bottle, a bottlenose dolphin leaping out of the sea in the coastal village where I like in West Wales and one of my most recent commissions: a large Bardic Chair which contains multiple carvings in wood, bronze and slate standing nine feet tall celebrating the rich history of the newly restored Cardigan Castle.
- Themed bench sculptures celebrating natural or local history, such as the kingfisher perched one end of the bench scanning for his lunch, then taking the dive. Meanwhile three swimming fish in the glass seat pool become two swimming fish at the other end of the seat as the kingfisher, carved in relief, takes flight with his catch.
- Memorial benches and memorial sculptures, which are very personal and are designed in close consultation with my client, who helps me to produce something that captures a little of the life being remembered. And I carve the more traditional memorial headstones.
- Sculpture trails
I also run carving workshops, for children, adults and have worked with vulnerable people as part of community projects. I also work in restoration including having recreated some of the ancient stone work of the decaying corbels in the North Transept of St Dogmaels Abbey in Pembrokeshire. My recreated pieces can be seen alongside the original 12th Century pieces at the Coach House Museum, St Dogmaels, Pembrokeshire. They say one picture is worth a thousand words, so I have included photos of examples of my work rather than try to spend too long explaining what I am about.
