Shiva King

I was born in Edgware, London, and grew up in Littlehampton, West Sussex (UK). At 17, I studied for a BTEC in General Art and Design at Northbrook College, Worthing. It was here that, as part of an art project on the sea, I first used my scalpel to whittled a gloriously, hideous figure, which I put into a bottle filled with sand.

I have been whittling for over 20 years now. During those 20 years I obtained a Masters in Physics and a PhD in Physics and Astrophysics - quite a different path to art. Now my path is returning to art, and I have the time to create again. I currently live in Muswell Hill, London with my Grandfather and pet rat Asherah.

I search for driftwood whenever I can. Most of the beaches I spend time on are on the South Coast of England, although wherever I travel I am always looking for the chance to go beachcombing. Most recently I was on holiday in the Dominican Republic, and spent hours on the beaches there, finding some very unusual objects in amongst the shells and seaweed.

Not all pieces of driftwood contain a figure. In my hands I feel the density, grain, and the softness of the wood. Wood from the sea can be so rotten it breaks while being carved, or it may only be soft because it is so...

MPhys Physics 1:1 (University of Sussex, UK, 2004)

PhD Physics and Astrophysics (University College London, UK, 2009)