Smiley Sculpture

Born 1950 in the Kent countryside, before the motorways came. I have been involved in image-making most of my life,completing a Fine Art/Sculpture degree in 1971. I now live and work in Brighton, Sussex, England. I have been woodcarving since the hurricane of 1987 tore through Sussex, leaving unwanted timber on the streets of Brighton. In carving, it is good to feel part of a tradition that spans the centuries and cultures.There is life already present in the wood, a sense of reverence and endurance. I work primarily in oak, our hardest native wood, carving entirely by hand.My work is figurative, the images often metaphorical. In recent years I have worked on large scale public commissions. Involving research into local history, the sculptures stand like silent storytellers in the landscape.I hope people find them relevant to their own experiences of life.