I began carving in 1974, first as a monumental mason and then as an ecclesiastical mason serving an apprenticeship at Chichester Cathedral. I became self-employed in 1981 and over the years have worked on many large and interesting restoration projects including St. George's Chapel in Windsor, Westminster Abbey, The National Gallery, The Public Records Office in London and Ely Cathedral.

 

In the early 1990s my focus shifted to the development of my own sculptural pieces, inspired largely by travels to India and Egypt as well as my love of medieval art. My orginal designs sell to private and corporate clients worldwide and through a number of galleries across the country.

 

I regularly accept commissions and this has increasingly led to the making of bespoke fireplaces in both traditional and contemporary designs.

 

I feel especially passionate about making this forgotten skill accessible to all and promoting the satisfaction derived from the creative process and the creation of an end product that can be shared and enjoyed by others. To this end I regularly run stonecarving courses, both at my studio and off-site at various locations across the south of England, including a series of relief carving courses at the V&A in London.

 

In particular I have had very rewarding experiences with local schools where the children have enjoyed seeing the finished sculptures emerge from the raw materials and recognising the significance of their own involvement.

 

I live and work at Hurst Barton near Martock, Somerset where my 16th century hamstone house and grounds host a collection of workshops. This has supported the number of collaborative projects I am able to engage in and the opportunities for inviting students onsite to partake in sculpture and stonecarving courses.

 

Also on location is a showroom where my sculpture and carvings are on permenant display and which also houses a select number of exhibitions through the year.