Discovering Sculpture
& Bronze casting
My passion for fine art casting ignited at 16 when I persuaded Royal College of Art graduates at a Suffolk foundry to teach me. This experience fundamentally connected me to artistic form and process, leading me to study fine art at the Norwich School of Art & Design.
After graduating in 2004, I moved to London, working at Sotheby's while maintaining a studio with ACME to pursue my studio practice. In 2016, I returned to Suffolk and established my own foundry, fully realising my artistic vision in bronze.
Building my first furnace and kiln was a self-taught process, a blend of osmosis, books, and tutorial videos. The generous team at Ransome & Randolph even helped me troubleshoot my ceramic shell workflow, ensuring I achieved consistent, high-quality results.
Finding Process
At art school, I was frustrated by traditional mould-making and material costs. This led me to direct casting, a form of lost wax casting. In this process, the original material is encased in a mould, then incinerated in a burnout kiln to create a void for molten bronze. Drawn to the idea of people inhabiting landscapes, I began sculpting "Marshmen"—figures inspired by my local wetlands and crafted from materials like rushes. To fix these organic elements in place and add specific gesture and texture, I would bind them using wax. This direct process, combined with the organic materials and the manipulation with wax, perfectly informed the figures, allowing me to capture the essence of my subject expediently.
Beginning To End
My hand touches every step of my creative process, from the initial idea to the final patination. I start by exploring and sketching ideas with wax and found materials, finding pleasing compositions. Once happy, I might 3D scan the maquette and further develop it, or make the investment mould and prepare to cast the form directly. Casting transforms my vision into metal, a process I take great care over. Next comes metal finishing, where I refine the surface and chase away the tell-tale signs of the casting process. Finally, I apply the patina, ensuring each piece truly reflects my artistic intent.
