Artist statement
ConceptsI make large scale wood sculpture, masks and furniture using chainsaw and hand carving tools. I am influenced by ancient and modern cultures, ecology and forms in nature. The sculpture I produce confirms my experience of life. I draw upon a wide variety of cross-cultural sources from my African birth place to the ancient history of Wales where I now live, making sense of my existence and reinventing personal myth and culture. With my roots in the primitive I enjoy the innocent, simple rawness of form. Often incorporating salvaged objects which add a quirky aspect, bringing a sense of surrealism to my work. Fire is frequently used on my sculpture to tighten surface tension and reveal a purity of form with obvious connotations with African black woods, death and rebirth.
Influences
Ancient cultures/myths, Environment/Ecology, Nature, Welsh, English, African, own gender (Male)
Career path
Commissions and residencies
2004 Salmon & bike benches, Environment Agency, Wales, Bangor
2004 Cooke's Cabinet, North Wales Wild life Trust
2004 Ardudwy Cycle Route, two entrance arches and benches, Wales
2003 Fire sculpture, Ross-on-Wye International Festival commission
2003 Sculpture and gates, National Trust commission, Wales
2003 Eight works, dingle Sculpture Trail, commission
2002 Shell in tree and stone circle, Tyddyn Mon, commission
2002 residency, National Slate Museum, North Wales
2002 Eight sculptures, Slate Valleys Inbitiative residency, Gwynedd Council, North Wales
2001 Parc Plas Mawr commission/residency, Penmaenmawr, North Wales
2001 Southall Art in the Park, Henna Hand commission, Groundwork West London, Ealing Council
2000 commission/residency, Sunfield School, Clent, Sourbridge, Worcestershire
2000 Millennium Time Capsule, for Trees of Time and Place
2000 Nine site specific scuptural benches, Elan Valley Trail, Rhayader, Wales
1999 Celtica, seating/sculpture residency for six months, Machynlleth, Wales
1999 Lon Eifion Cycle Route, gateway, leaning rail and bench, Caernarfon
1997 Two benches for Sustrans cycle way, South Gloucester
1997 Growing Willow Arbour and bench, Nantmor, North Wales
1996 'Exhaust Case', Artbypass, Newbury
1995 Tables and seating for Halo Foods Tywyn, Wales
1994 Twenty four, carved oak bollards, Bristol City Council
1993 'Oak Settle' Benchmarks, Tatton Park Gardens, Chester
1990 'Blaise Faze' residency, in woodland on the Blaise Castle Estate, Bristol
1990 '5 Hulls' In City In Situ project, Bristol docks
Solo exhibitions
- 2009 New Works, Tinto House, Hay-on-Wye Literary Festival.
- 2008 ‘In 2 Out’, Tinto House, Hay-on-Wye Literary Festival
- 2006 Inside Outside, Tinto House, Hay-on-Wye Literary Festival
- 2004 Deep rooted, Dipersed Gallery, Harlech
Group exhibitions
- 2007 Minorities View, Oriel Plas Y Weddw, LLanbedrog, North Wales
- 2002 Designer & Recliner, 20/21 Gallery, Scunthorpe
- 1999 Take a Seat/Cymerwch Sedd, Oriel Pendeitsh, Caernarfon, Wales
- 1999 Celtica Gallery, Machynlleth, Wales
- 1997 Sitting Pretty Silver Fir Chair, Kirkcaldy Musuem and Art Gallery
- 1997 Bottom Drawer, National Eisteddfod of Wales
- 1994 Return of the Bird Tribes Performance, Glastonbury
- 1992 Exposing the Grain, Spacex Gallery, Exeter
- 1992 Medicine Fire Wheel Performance, North Wales
- 1989 Doxbox Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol
Residencies
- 2007 Miners Head & Auger, Cwmaman Sculpture Trail, Cwmaman, Aberdare, South Wales
Public commissions
- 2009 Alder, Meadowsweet, Devils Bit Scabious Seeds Forms, North Somerset Council, Lonsdale crossing, Weston-Super-Mare
- 2009 2 benches, National Trust, Beddgelert, N Wales
- 2009 Blackberry and Shell bench, Breakwater Park, Holyhead, Ynys Mon, N Wales
- 2008 Celtic Cross, St Cynbryd's Church, Llandulas, Conwy, N Wales
- 2008 Branwell Bronte, Bronte Parsonage Museum, Haworth, Yorkshire
- 2008 Newport Wetlands Artworks, RSPB Nature Reserve, West Nash Rd, Newport, South Wales
- 2007 Wind In His Sails, Llynnon Mill, Ynys Mon, N Wales
- 2007 3 Sculptures & land Art, Wern Park, Caerphilly Council, Wern Park, Nelson, South Wales
- 2007 Countryside Council for Wales Nature Trail, Llyn Mair Nature Trail, Maentwrog, Gwynedd, N Wales
- 2006 3 Seats, Breakwater Park, Holyhead, Ynys Mon, N Wales
- 2005 Caeredroia, commission and residency, Forestry Commission, Llanwrst. N Wales
- 2005 Large out door table, National Trust, Craflwyn, Beddgelert, N Wales
