My aim is to maintain and refresh the ancient art of stone carving, using modern techniques and idioms, and to work for the acceptance of stone carving as an expressive art form.
 

Working in Carrara, 2005

Stone attracts me partly because of the fascination of the material. Carving is a process of discovery, revealing qualities which are already there in the substance of stone. It provides limitations which don’t necessarily restrict the artist. The challenge is to create something new within the possibilities of the material.

"Nor Iron Bars..." (Black Spanish Marble) Length 80cm

The quality of the stone is revealed by going under the surface, finding and establishing new surfaces. Contrast between rough and smooth, showing the marks of saw and chisel in places, and polishing other parts of the sculpture, is part of the way I work.
 

Solar disc (Staffordshire alabaster) ht. 100 cm

Running figure (Portland limestone) ht. 60cm

Using a wide variety of stone is also important to me.  Some that I have used are: local Scottish sandstone, granite, and serpentine; English limestone, slate, and alabaster; French limestone; Belgian, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Greek marble; travertine and onyx from Italy and Persia; Australian and Canadian soapstone.

This is sculpture with a monumental feel, but on a human scale. Figurative or abstract, the theme will be suggested partly by the block I am working with.  I may choose a block which seems likely to suit an idea I already have, but the plan may change as the carving progresses!
 

Just Hooked (Carrara marble) Length 60cm

Benozzo's Clydesdale (Portland stone) Height 55cm

Pearl Oyster (alabaster, serpentine) diameter 35cm

Two public commissions for figurative sculptures in the last year have given me the opportunity to develop large-scale work, and to project-manage the whole process, co-ordinating a team of specialists and other artists.

Statue of St Peregrine being installed, Carfin 2005  (Carrara marble) ht 200 cm

His CV can be found here.