The Sculpture for Mynydd Mawr, Tumble, is in the early drying stage, wrapped in plastic. Once I’m sure the upper sections are firm enough (including the internal supports) I’ll get my Assistants in and we will cut the sections and lift them onto memory-foam for a long , slow, dry.
This is a lovely stage; the clay is still full of water and it holds the light beautifully. I have been over the whole piece with a fine modelling tools.
Photographs by Stephen Foote.
Almost there- it’s down to finishing touches now. I’ve re-done the head about 90 times and I’m still not happy with it. The Sculpture is wrapped in plastic to rest and settle.I will un-wrap it with fresh eyes and be better able to see what’s needed. In theory. Once the top feels firm I will remove those internal supports- a scary moment ; it could collapse which is why you need to have a ‘sensibly'(pessimistically ) long build time! The supports have to come out because they are restricting the shrinkage and soon they will start causing damage. That broom will never be the same. The outside supports will stay to the end and those sections will get their finishing touches during dismantling.
Andrew Preece of Smart-fix, my expert Installer came over and we plotted the sections. It’s great having his early input. I never compromise on the form but Andrew can advise on structural issues so that the Installation goes smoothly and we get the best result.
That hole in the top left is the last bit to go in. The fired colour will be a stony pale yellow.
A Sculpture will transform any Garden, huge or pocket-sized, elaborate or austere. It will need to be made of beautiful, quality materials that have a radiance complimentary to your gorgeous plants. A piece needs to be frost-proof and easily cleaned. No material is as durable or as low maintenance as high-fired Clay.
I make simple , movable plinths with old bricks and attractive stone paving tiles. Dig a hole and put in some bricks to make a foundation if the Sculpture is tall or very heavy, then build a hollow plinth with a small doorway that can double as a safe, cosy home for wild-life. If security is an issue or the piece is tall and vulnerable to high winds sink a stake into the ground, build the plinth around this and have the stake go into the Sculpture- many of my Sculptures are hollow and you can set them securely with cement if needs be.
My garden is 8 years old and is now really coming into it’s own. 
The River, commission.
Wyvern II, 70cm H x 52cm W. £1100. (sold)
Up is Down XV, £300 (sold)
Harbinger I, £600. (sold)
Up is Down XVI, 26cm H x 56cm L, £300.
Up is Down II, 42cm H x 90cm L, £950.
Half a Century III, 40cm H, £150.(sold)
River Harbinger, at Wyndcliffe Court Sculpture Garden, 125cm H, £950 (sold)
The River III, 80cm H, £500 Sold
The Edge III, 57cm H, £600, (sold).
Callipygous, 41cm H x 73cm L, £600. (sold)
In the winter sculptures give the garden focal points and structure while the plants rest.
Up is Down IV, 44cm H x 58cm L, £2400 (sold)
Up is Down II, 80cm L, £300
Harbinger I, £600. (sold)
Osprey Studios Garden backs right onto the wonderful country-side of the Brecon Beacons National Park
Sculptures will define each area of your garden. This patio at the end of the garden is a calm, reflective place with dappled shade in the summer and warm sun in spring and autumn. In the winter the sculpture stands out and is eye catching from the house.
Up is Down II, 41cm H x 80cm L, £300.
Musings, 21cm H, £150. (sold)
Musings, 20cm H, £150.(sold)
The Edge XI, 77cm L x 49cm H, £300
The Edge I , 52cm H, £730.(sold)
The Edge XII, 71.5cm L x 46.5cm H x 40cm D. £1400 (sold)
The Edge XI, 77cm L x 49cm H x 40cm D. £300
Henry Moore said that a sculpture was not complete until it was in the place it’s owner chose for it. It is wonderful to see my pieces transformed by new settings; it is the best part of delivering work to Exhibitions.
Wyndcliffe Court is a truly lovely place. You follow a narrow winding road past old-fashioned meadows and woodland to reach the beautiful house.
Wyndcliffe Court has extensive, mature Topiary.
Wyndcliffe Court Gardens are Grade II listed and designed in the Arts and Crafts style. Situated along the Wye Valley between Chepstow and Tintern, they are beautiful formal gardens with views to the south and east. Open every weekend, they are showcasing contemporary sculptures by local and well-known British artists. Open from 2nd May – 28th September 2014 three sculpture shows will run consecutively, each collection featuring hundreds of sculptures to suit all tastes in a wide variety of mediums, sizes and styles situated throughout the garden and offering the opportunity to view and purchase beautiful sculpture with an outstanding backdrop.
The Gardens are full of unusual, breath-taking, mature plants.
The couple running this new venture are both Artists themselves. They are wonderfully down to earth and very knowledgable about Contemporary Art. They charge a modest Commission and are very supportive to their Artists so prices there are extremely competitive. There is a wide range of styles and materials on show across the enchanting Gardens. There is a delightful Shop and the most perfect Terrace Tea-shop. Their Website is very helpful.
Standing Form, 110cm H, £650
Standing Form, 110cm H, £650
Callipygous, 41cm H x 73cm L, £600.
Serenity, 53cm H, £625
River Harbinger, 125cm H, £950
River Harbinger, 125cm H, £950
Up Is Down X, 52cm W, £550
Up is Down IX, 57cm W, £550
The shape looks crazy at this point.
The first draft of the details can go on; the most important thing right now is to get good joins for the clay.
When the clay has hardened these can be touched up by carving with a delicate tool. These images were taken from archive pictures of 2 mines and the Railway local to Tumble. Apparently the Train that ran from Great Mountain Colliery was the first ever passenger line.
I’m using smaller coils and each stage is taking longer.It is just approaching the point where the central hole will form and the top edges start to meet- lets hope my measurements were right! If it doesn’t meet properly I’ll cut out large sections and re-do them.
The props are getting more inventive!
Those out-side supports will stay in place until after the upper parts are cut and lifted off. In theory it would be self-supporting….but if it collapsed it would do it fast! The final, fired and installed Sculpture will have cement and steel rods inside so it will be strong enough to climb on.
This was an event we will definatly repeat. The group spent the day together exchanging ideas with re-freshing frankness, we had a lovely pot-luck lunch in the glorious sun-shine, and a lot of work got done! It was great to have a variety of materials. The Studio space worked well despite having the big commission in the middle of it so we will look into other group days we could have here.
Cameraman and Photographer Stephen Foote brought all sorts of fascinating contraptions, lights, screens and cameras and spent a lot of time with each person to get the shots they really wanted. He is a wonderful teacher so we all learned a lot. We are wondering if the next one could be a Workshop showing how to get quality pictures using house-hold kit like angle-poise lamps and grease-proof paper. Let me know if you would want to come to that.
These are my favourites;
Gill Tennant-Eyles
Gill Tennant-Eyles
John Binet-Fauvel
John Binet-Fauvel
Melissa Warren
Melissa Warren
Melissa Warren
Sian Stanford
Sian Stanford
Rebecca Buck 