As a young man I used to visit the home of the Sussex based sculptor and letter carver John Skelton when he opened his studio and garden to the public each year. My grandfather was a sign-writer and gilder and it is influences like these which helped to shape my interest in craft.
CONTACT ME
I was lucky enough to do my foundation studies in art and design at Eastbourne Art College where the influential artist John Meadows taught life drawing. Having concentrated on sculpture I travelled to Sheffield Polytechnic to complete a Degree in Sculpture.
I did my stone carving training at Weymouth and Portland College in Dorset where the long tradition of carving Portland stone was ever present.
For the first part of my apprenticeship I worked as an architectural stonemason and carver at Mather & Ellis Stonemasons of Manchester. Here I largely taught myself the rudiments of carving and technical sculpture. I carved my first portrait bust, a self portrait in Portland limestone.
For the second part I joined the heritage restoration company Treasure & Sons of Ludlow working closely with English Heritage on listed buildings and monuments including Compton Verney, Hill Court, Berrington Hall, Richards Castle Church & Hampton Court (Herefordshire ).
In 1999 I began eight year at Mackinnon and Saunders the acclaimed animation studio where I worked with Hollywood film company Warner Brothers as a sculptor developing new projects with director Tim Burton. This culminated in seven of my sculptures being seen on screen in the film ‘Corpse Bride’. I also worked on many well known stop frame animations for television and advertising. This period contributed to developing my skill in sculpting figures in clay.
I then worked as a freelance carver for 10 years before starting my own company in 2006 concentrating on figurative work. I am one of the only portrait artists working in stone in the UK today. I specialise in using Italian marble and indigenous British stone but also work in bronze.
In 2008 I began working with semi precious marble, alabaster and onyx and now do restoration of sculpture for some of the major auction houses in the UK.
I have lectured and run workshops in sculpture at various Universities, schools and colleges throughout the country.
In 2012 I was elected a member of The Master Carvers Association and am one of only eleven members specialising in stonework. From 2018 -2021 I served as president.
I have experience in sculpting solely from photographs if the subject is not available for a sitting.
I also offer a technical copy carving service.
I can also work solely from photographs.
I am available to discuss any ideas or requirements by telephone at any time.