What are your sources of inspiration?
The exceptional work from the past which is on display in cathedrals, churches, and museums. Often the smallest carving, by an unremembered sculptor, can be the most beautiful.
How do you express tradition and innovation in your work?
I work within the English ornamental carving tradition, especially when it comes to restoration, but I also look to what can be done with carving now, in the modern era, and how we as contemporary carvers can continue to grow the craft.
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How is your craft linked to the territory?
The European ornamental carving tradition has very strong roots, and particular styles and types of ornament have developed in each country where it was practiced. I have grown up in a country full of ornamental carving, and it is this tradition that gives me inspiration.
What is a memorable moment in your professional life?
The most memorable moment was when I worked on the restoration of Guildford Cathedral’s Children’s Chapel. My partner Felix Handley and I restored the paintwork and gilding there in 2018, and it was a very moving experience to see how many people came there to remember children who they had lost.