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Totems and Trees
My totems tell tall stories based on nature and the environment. They are colourful and are designed to withstand the elements.
Tin
Tin was once one of the main industries of Cornwall and the remains can still be seen all over the county, especially around the Penwith area. These pieces are inspired by that area with its heather covered hills and sea under which the Geever Mine runs.
Exotica
These pieces were inspired by a trip to the Eden Project and the tropical Dome. Plants with huge leaves and patterned stems with horny spines in unfamiliar shapes and colours.
Fish Boy
This piece comes from a play by Kneehigh Theatre in Cornwall about a boy, half-fish and half-human who eventually leaves his parents to live in the sea.
Green Man and the Tree of Life
The Green Man is an ancient symbol of nature and the life force. My totem has images of animals and landscape woven together.
Men-an-Tol
Men-an-Tol is an ancient stone on the North Cornwall coast. The totem depicts the heather moorland and tin mines that surround it. Legend has it that sickly children or animals are cured if passed through the hole in the stone.
Sarcofa Bird
The sarcofa bird is one of the Adrinka symbols from the Ghanaian culture.
It means going back to your roots, and that it is never too late to make amends.
Beach Series
The beaches of Cornwall are lovely but the three in St. Ives are special because they are so much a part of the town. They are all sandy with rock pools against a background of azure glttering seas. From the left: Porhwidden, Porthminster and Porthmeor.
Talking Sticks
This piece is based on three religions, Hindu, Muslim and Christian. It was a commission in which I have used varying symbolic images to convey each religion. The idea was that they would 'Talk' to each other and whistling holes have been pierced into each of the animals at the top.
Trees
I came out of the Tate Modern one day at dusk and the silver birches which are like a living sculpture inspired me to make this group of ceramic trees. These were recently exhibited at The Puthall Farm Sculpture show in Wiltshire.
Cornish Coast
The coast path can be seen winding up the totem with sea, waves and marine life on one side, and moors and standing circular stone on the other.
River Runs Through It
This totem was based on two gardens that I am familiar with, which have streams running through them. Complete with fish and plants.
The Gwilt Totem
This was a commission for a special wedding anniversary. It’s about how they met, where they live, and their musical family.
Ghana Beads
After a recent visit to Ghana, where I spent some of my childhood, I wanted to celebrate the wonderful crafts they have there, so I made this totem basing the geometric design on Kente Cloth and adding beads, which they make out of recycled glass.
Knot Garden
This piece is based on a very formal garden called a knot garden. They were very popular in the Elizabethan times and can still be seen in stately home gardens.
Joanie
In the nineteenth century the fisherman of St Ives used to carve dolls out of old oars and these they called Joanies, so I thought that it made a good subject for a totem.
Headland
The Lizard peninsular was the inspiration for this totem, land and sea and associated plants and marine life.
Cornish Garden Trio
These three pieces are inspired by the three gardens that I visit the most near Falmouth in Cornwell. They are Fox’s garden, Glendurgan garden and Trebah garden.
Coastlines 2
This was inspired by the beaches around St. Ives with its sparkling seas and marine life bordering sandy dunes and gorse and heather covered headlands.
