In September 2020 I took the plunge and after 40 years following a career in the commercial world I left my job to throw myself wholeheartedly into the arts world. I owed it to myself having decided at school to park my artistic abilities to “return to later in life”. Creativity is a gift and it would be remiss of me to just dabble as a hobby and not to make the most of it.

I'm at the start of my new career in a strange new world and finding my way as I go, doing as much work as I can, reading and learning from the masters and trying new materials, tools and processes. Ive been studying the works of Brancusi, Hepworth, Young, and Moore extensively to build up an understanding of their creative processes, thoughts and lives to help guide my own approach.

I’m experimenting to find what I love doing and to develop my artistic practice. What I have learned is that the stone itself is the heart and soul of what I make, be it rockery stones from a garden centre or blocks from quarries or suppliers. Its hardness, colour, texture and imperfections dictate a lot of the creative process either as a block I impart my ideas upon or as a unique stone that guides my ideas.

As a sculptor I've had some formal training at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and in Pietrasanta Italy with the Marble Workshop but mainly self-taught.

Before discovering stone carving I used take photos as my primary creative passion and many moons ago I used to paint in oils in the 90s and have carved wood on and off since then but not to any real degree.

I'm interested in taking photographs in the urban environment and street photography. I prefer colour photography and look to capture compositions from the urban environment using natural and man made colours. Ive produced a few photography books which are available for purchase direct from the manufacturer.

Thanks for looking at my work

Steve
Stockport, United Kingdom