Mussell II (gates of the body, gates of the soul) Sculpture

I am a self-taught artist and sculptor based in London. Negative space and light play a big part in my practice. I have a studio in the garden and I often keep my work at the window and look across at it at different times of the day. I like to see how light and distance changes perspective. I bring this back with me when I’m back in the studio and it feels I’m bringing something new to the piece. It influences what I build or carve, what I add and what I leave. My work usually starts with a sketch. I often do quick finger sketches on my phone when I’m travelling around. I like the immediacy of having to create a sketch quickly as it reveals a shape and I don’t have time to obsess about detail. These can be quite commonplace in origin. From sketches of people snoozing on public transport, to a found object on the ground or the shape of the light on buildings. I rarely, however, replicate my sketches in solid form. The shapes and spaces I’ve sketched usually serve as a starting point. I enjoy exploring where the edges are and can be, how shapes intersect, how the form organically reveals itself and the mood of the piece.