Studio News

Mad dog’s an English Man

Mad dog’s an English Man

I love to bring the character to life and working  with charcoal creates an immediacy that other mediums don't quite do.  This drawing was a gift to a friend who I also love working with.  Thank you Sarah!

Sculpting from Life

Sculpting from Life

This is a commission of two labradors.  It was a very hard commission for me to do, so I spent alot of time, borrowing friends' labradors to wonder around the studio as I tried to capture their features and character.  Sometimes I would get distracted like in this photo.  Hard not to!  Notice my dog, Tinka feeling very left out!

Article in English Garden Magazine

Article in English Garden Magazine

A lovely feature of my work - reminding us all of the summer months!

A Very Electric Blue Hare

A Very Electric Blue Hare

Here is the finished bronze sculpture.  This is a great garden sculpture, and the electric blue, really makes the bronze sculpture stand out from afar.  This is hare will smile as you wake in the morning!

Patination of the Electric Blue Hare

Patination of the Electric Blue Hare

There was alot of blue!

Bronze, Bronze, and more Bronze Hare

Bronze, Bronze, and more Bronze Hare

Amazing to be asked to cast my hare in bronze....so to learn about the process when casting a sculpture on such a large scale and watch it come together was amazing.  Here I am - having checked the final bronze hare, before its patinated in bright electric blue!

Torso commission

Torso commission

I had to move away from animals and wildlife, to the human figure and the female torso.  Lots of drawing, observing and sketching with wax.  This is the essence of what I was wanting to portray.  Movement.

The Glorious March – Finished at last

The Glorious March – Finished at last

I love the deep turquoise verdigris for this very dramatic, marching gaming cockerel, showing him off in all his glory.  They are very small but larger than life in personality!  I hope he makes you smile like he does for me.

Gaming Cockerel Commission

Gaming Cockerel Commission

I loved working on this wildlife bronze - Gaming cockerels are so full of character and strength - all features I admire and love to re-create in abundance.  Here he is still in the wax version

New Gallery!  Exhibiting at The Jerram Gallery, Sherborne

New Gallery! Exhibiting at The Jerram Gallery, Sherborne

I am very excited to announce I am now being represented by The Jerram Gallery in Sherborne.  A lovely gallery to be showing my work.

Electric Blue hare – gone bronze!

Electric Blue hare – gone bronze!

A client wanted my blue hare in bronze resin....and it has come out looking very handsome - a good alternative!

You never know what you may find in my fridge amongst the chilling booze!

You never know what you may find in my fridge amongst the chilling booze!

This is a photo of a finished sculpture in wax just before it goes to the foundry - infact - its in my fridge to remain cold!!!!  This was a commission of a race horse and jockey, who had many successes, and the owner wanted to have something to remember him by.  It was quite hard for me as I had very little material to work from, but he was good at giving me a description of the horse in words, and with a few photos I just managed it!

Starting to put the rider on the race horse

Starting to put the rider on the race horse

I have sketched the race horse, and now placing the rider on the horse....and trying to get the movement and interaction between horse and rider

‘Little White Lie!’ – Half way through latest commission

‘Little White Lie!’ – Half way through latest commission

I have yet to mount the jockey, and so this wax sculpture has a long way to go but hopefully you can begin to see a race horse emerging - the race horse is called 'Little White Lie'  - Great name

Labrador

Labrador

A very quick sketch - alot wrong but then it doesnt matter....I am just trying to understand lab!!! Lab, lab, lab!  Its a journey!

The Last Bow – Head of a Horse

The Last Bow – Head of a Horse

I sculpted this piece using scrim and plaster and have now had it cast as both in bronze and bronze resin.....The bronze edition looks amazing outside, on a free standing plinth, and can be a feature in a small area to create focus.  Its a sad reflection of a long but purposeful life.

Preparatory Drawings

Preparatory Drawings

I am always trying to do studies for my sculptures, and the horses head is one I never get bored of trying to capture.  I gave this drawing to a dear friend, but is one which helped me to be inspired to sculpt 'The Last Bow'

Home can be anywhere!  Even a cardboard box!

Home can be anywhere! Even a cardboard box!

Ottie features in my studio a lot and you will see her pop up in photos and videos as she walks around sculptures with such style and caution.  It is me who always has the accidents!

Forever Friends

Forever Friends

The pair of life size lurchers seen in Burford Gallery, are in traditional bronze and display a very elegant feel to these two dogs.  Do go and visit them and see what you can learn about life long friendships.  I have learnt a lot recently from my own dogs - and their unconditional love which I adore especially when I am feeling grumpy and low!

Drawings to support my work

Drawings to support my work

I really enjoy working with charcoal and ink to increase my understanding of the subject matter - Its also good to have a break from working on 3D!

A day in the foundry

A day in the foundry

The brightness of bronze before it is patinated in the foundry always amazes me!  Here are a selection of my horse sculptures about to have loads of chemicals thrown on them!  And the hares are still in wax, about to go under layers and layers of rubber!!!

Companionship

Companionship

My life size lurchers cast in Iron ....to give a lovely rich rust finish.

Sherlock at Moreton Walled Garden

Sherlock at Moreton Walled Garden

From Life Exhibition of Sculptures and Paintings at the Sladmore Contemporary

From Life Exhibition of Sculptures and Paintings at the Sladmore Contemporary

Come to London and see a lovely selection of sculptures and paintings - to help raise funds for the Family Counselling Trust at the Sladmore Contemporary, Bruton Place, London W1 from 1st - 9th June.  We would love to welcome you there!

DORSET ART WEEKS (21st May to 6th June 2021)

DORSET ART WEEKS (21st May to 6th June 2021)

Come and visit Polly and I in the studio and have a wonder around the gardens.  The weather will improve, I promise!  We will welcome you with a cuppa, or something stronger, you never know your luck!

Open Air Sculpture Exhibition – Newbury

Open Air Sculpture Exhibition – Newbury

Look forward to a day out in the sun and see some wild and fun sculptures! For more information, click here.

A moment in time

A moment in time

Here is my life-size lying lurcher - just been cast.  He has been asleep, and has just been woken by his great mate....he looks up and they catch each other's eyes - a moment in time.

New brochure – Indoor bronze sculptures

New brochure – Indoor bronze sculptures

Here is a brochure showing a selection of recent bronze sculptures for the home.  They have been beautifully photographed by Millie Pilkington http://www.milliepilkington.co.uk

Jumping into January 2021

Jumping into January 2021

'Comet' - the Irish Sports Horse - is ready for his new owner.  Here he is in all his glory, jumping high as he loved to do when hunting.  He's already looking for the next thrill before he's even jumped!  Hence why I have called this sculpture 'Loving Life.'

Commission Completed

Commission Completed

So the commission culminated in a jumping horse - has power and energy with a moving mid-air twist!  I'm rather relieved not to be riding him!

Work in Progress

Work in Progress

Towards the end of 2020, my studio was filled with greyhounds and lurchers - live, as finished sculptures and as clay works in progress..Here is a photo giving you a glimpse of all three at the same time!  Nothing remained the same for long, working with live animals!

Techniques and Finishes

Techniques and Finishes

Sculptures can take on a different form, if you apply a little creativity to the finishes or patina of your bronze sculpture.  My Electric Blue Hare is a great example, but equally it can be finished in a traditional bronze depending on what you would like.

Outside Sculpture

Outside Sculpture

Ottie the cat has found a new friend, as we prepare for the Open Studio in September.  Perhaps she's feeling left out and I need to research cat sculptures!!

New Brochure – for outdoor garden sculptures

New Brochure – for outdoor garden sculptures

Here is my new brochure showing many of my outdoor sculptures using the amazing photos by Millie Pilkington  http://www.milliepilkington.co.uk  

My Dorset Studio

My Dorset Studio

Here is my studio in chaos, as normal but it's exciting as it is burgeoning with new work and drawings before I create order in order to open up the Studio for my next exhibition.  Anyone is welcome to visit at any time!

Mrs Darling

Mrs Darling

This is a classic sight of sheep, dogs and sculptures in the yard when I was focused on my series of sheep sculptures.  Here I am just finishing the sculpture of the head of Mrs Darling.  She had a wonderfully wise old face, I just am not sure I did her justice.

Inspiration

Inspiration

Riding is a constant source of inspiration for me.   Our horse, Walter, was an amazing Irish Sports Horse, with long and expressive ears which you can see here, surveying the Cattistock hills in Dorset!

Horse Head Preliminary Drawing

Horse Head Preliminary Drawing

I love going into the field, and I always start by doing a 'blind drawing' with a bit of chalk or ink.  This is when you don't look at the page and you just look at the subject.  And this is what you come up with!  But it gets me looking and I feel that sometimes I still don't look enough - like here!

Covid Safe!

Covid Safe!

If I went to Tescos in this...perhaps people would keep the two metre rule!  Here I am welding the armature for my large hare sculpture!

Commission Delivered

Commission Delivered

This was a lovely commission of Onyx, a dear miniature wire-haired Dachshund and in fact he really suits this light tan patination.  The first edition has been safely delivered to his home in Cumbria.