Forest Hymn - Beer Limestone

I work in the soft limestones of England and France which offer a rich range of pale colours and textures. I like the white and yellow creaminess of these stones and the way they cut so easily under the chisel. They need to be worked with delicacy and restraint, and are gently manipulated into shape with respect for their softness. My designs bring together my lifelong interest in geometry, my love of carved ornament from the Romanesque and ancient Indian cultures and my fascination with botanical and marine forms. The designs for my work evolve through studying the underlying geometry of natural forms. I am drawn towards the infinite variety of shapes, sizes and arrangements of leaves, petals, flowers and the patterns found in marine creatures. Each life form, although different, is seemingly bound by geometric rules which dictate shape and pattern and yet allow an endless variety of curve and twist and undulation of line and form. ___________________________________________________________________________________ Nick began working with stone as an apprentice stonemason at Canterbury Cathedral and then went on to study carving at the City and Guilds of London Art School. Although he has worked with stone for over 25 years at Canterbury, Rochester, Wells, Exeter and Salisbury Cathedrals it is only in the last three years that he has turned his skills to creating his own work in stone. A major commission to carve a life size Buddha statue was followed by a journey to Goa and Karnataka early last year meeting Indian stone carvers and visiting the ancient temple sites of Hampi, Patadakal and Badami which proved a highly inspiration experience. Although some of his work shows an Indian influence, the underlying energy comes from his deep interest in geometry and pattern and the way these appear in the natural world. Nick's work also displays themes of natural and spiritual growth with echoes of the sculpturally fertile Romanesque period.