Cutting at Arley or my shed?...

I had a really hard time trying to decide whether to cut the sculptures at Arley Hall or at home. I know I am working at Arley in December and felt a bit of me wanted ownership of the wood at least for a short while. To have them in my shed is to know that the decision was correct - although at the time when Barry, my friend Kevin and myself were lugging logs into the van I wasn't quite so sure. I have a room full of shapely reminders of the gardens (seeds, pods, leaves, flowers) and can still feel a wave of calm thinking of them so until that runs out I shall cut them here in my shed.

The Wood

At the moment what I have is a shed full of Beech tree, my chainsaw and a few free weeks to have some fun! Barry has just been great, he manages the Estate and has prepared a Beech tree for me that we looked at in October. It was down due to rot - the same rot that is now blackening the wood but not to worry, once it dries out the colour will go back to normal and the grain will not be effected. Phew!

Inspiration For Arley hall, Commission in progress

'Red Oak' 2001

'Black Holes' 2005

'Three Holes' 2005

'Spiral' 2006

Arley hall and Gardens

I have been awarded a Sculpture Commission as part of Cheshire's Year of the Garden 2008. This is my Diary of events cutting and shaping wood in the lead up to March 2008 when the sculptures will be placed in the gardens for public viewing.


You can meet me in person at Arley Hall and Gardens from the 5th to the 9th December 2007 while I am on residency sanding the finished pieces.