Commissions
Thinking about commissioning a piece?
Whether you’re wanting to give something memorable to a loved one, you’re marking a special occasion or you’re simply looking for a distinctive sculpture for your home or garden, this section should give you some insight into what’s involved in commissioning a stone sculpture.
By allowing you to select the type of stone, size, finish and mount I can tailor your piece to fit the context in which it will be displayed and your budget.
Each piece is unique. Each sculptural composition is different and the very rock it emerges from has made its own journey through time, under a singular set of geological conditions that cannot be replicated or repeated.
Below you’ll find more info about what’s involved in commissioning a piece and the creative and practical process for realising a sculptural piece. For an informal chat (no obligation) please get in touch.
Commissioning a piece: what’s involved?
Typically we would begin with a conversation about what you are looking for: are you drawn to other pieces in my body of work? Does a specific stone or finish appeal to you?
We would then move on to looking at logistics: Is it for a specific location or occasion? (I might arrange a site visit, if appropriate). What are your time-scales? Have you thought about a budget?
I would then provide a quote and if you wanted to move ahead I would advise on the delivery date.
Throughout the making process I would give you regular updates and I would capture images and notes about the sculpture as it emerged to give to you as a ‘Story of your stone’ on completion.
Finally, we would arrange collection or delivery of the piece (free local delivery).
Creating a sculpture
Depending on the size and complexity of the piece and the nature of the stone, a sculpture will take me anywhere from three weeks to three months to complete.
It’s hard to say exactly where the idea for a new sculpture truly begins. Often I will see a piece of stone and read a shape in it: something that already exists within it and simply needs some help to emerge. Other times it will be an image or composition that presents itself to me - hanging in the ether, waiting for the right moment or the right rock to settle in.
I source stone from specialist sculpting stone suppliers and quarries. I predominantly select stone from the UK to minimize the carbon impact of transporting it. Favourite choices include Scottish Serpentine and pink Triassic sandstone from Staffordshire. With the land-owners’ permission I also gather found stone from abandoned quarries.
Once the idea has settled and the stone has been selected I wash it, touch it and look at it from all angles, helping me to read the pigments, strata and natural forms in the rock.
Next I remove any unstable or damaged rock using a point chisel and mallet, before beginning to rough out the broad form, again using a point chisel and punch.
With a scutch or claw chisel I begin to create a more regular surface, evening out rough bumps and protrusions.
As the form takes shape I add detail with flat chisels (now using a lighter mallet), before moving to diamond-tipped rifflers and rasp to achieve fine details.
Finally, I use carbide blocks and varying grades of wet-and-dry sandpaper to polish the surface.
As I work, I document each stage in photographs, capturing the story of the stone as it transitions from raw stone to finished sculpture.
Finally comes the mounting stage. The right mount has the power to elevate a sculpture, positioning it just so and drawing the eye to its defining features. My mounts are hand-crafted and are typically made of slate, marble and occasionally found stone.
