“Steve Williams debut solo show titled “stone” is a confident venture into the art world. Having worked for many years as an engineer, the artist decided to pursue his lifelong ambition to carve a career from his practice.

Williams is clearly making up for years lost as he managed to showcase a remarkable amount of work for the short time he has spent making.

Despite this – each piece is thoughtfully and skilfully considered and emphasises his passion for the materials he works with, and the history of contemporary sculpture. The artist showcased his photographic and sculptural work – although it is clear as the title of the show suggests, that stone is the material the artist is most passionate and curious about.

His experiments with the human form nod heavily to influences such as Hepworth, Moore, and Rodin, whom the artist imitates with sensitivity and respect.

The sculptures he creates always acknowledge the raw materials they existed as before resembling their human like forms. ‘Emily I’ depicts a resting female faced with closed eyes and a tranquil expression, her skin carved skilfully from marble rockery stone so that the viewer has the impression of real flesh, however the artist has left the rest of the material in it’s raw state, so that her face dissolves into the natural stone. The juxtaposition of these natural and man made textures demonstrates how Williams is keen for the viewer to see his process and experience the joy he feels from making.