• HOW DID YOU FIRST BECOME INTERESTED IN SCULPTING?

I first became interested in sculpture when I was at school in 1989, I started gcse art and I could not draw to save my life. The art teacher thought I was terrible and pulled me to one side and said give this up. But at the time I thought art class would be more fun than other lessons so I chose to stay. The teacher stuck me on the wheel turning pots as part of the pottery element of the course but I found that a little boring. so I took some clay to one corner and started to shape something up with it and I found that I seemed to be very good at it and my art developed from there.

• AT WHAT POINT DID YOU FIRST REALIZE THAT YOU COULD MAKE A CAREER OUT OF YOUR ART?

I found that I could make money from art when I was about 18 I joined a firm and became an assistant sculptor to a master artist. This is probably the best way for any one to start , join a firm that creates the kind of art that you wish to create.

• WHAT KIND OF EDUCATION OR TRAINING HELPED YOU DEVELOP YOUR SKILL SET?

The only training I’ve had was an apprentice with an animation company producing moving 3D displays.

• HOW DID YOU BREAK INTO THE ART INDUSTRY?

As for breaking into the industry I’m kind of now going it alone, in December I should be setting up my first website. Where I will be selling Ltd edition sets of canvas bespoke framed prints. I’m hoping to turn this into a successful business venture and at the same time I will also hope to produce high end one off bronze cast statues.

• WHAT SKILLS AS A SCULPTOR DO YOU THINK HAVE REALLY MADE YOU A SUCCESS IN THE INDUSTRY?

The real skills I would say that I have is patience and a real dedication to detail, there are no short cuts to sculpting a detailed statue. Of course a steady hand and sharp eye sight is a must but building a true beautiful work is a long process. Sometimes boredom can set in with artists because it’s a long process but you have to have a true gift of patience to stick at it and see it through. The longest statue I once worked on took over 3 years to build. When I was working on this particular statue, all I was thinking about at the time was everything else I wanted to sculpt rather than the actual statue I was building. It was horrible because it went on and on, but I kept at it.

• BEFORE YOU SCULPT, DO YOU DRAW YOUR INSPIRATION FIRST?

No I never draw an idea for a statue, I look at lots of pictures and make notes, the idea forms in my head. I then build the statue from the picture I see in my head using my hands I make the sculpture.

• YOUR STYLE SEEMS TO BE IN THE PERIOD OF THE BAROQUE AND ROMANTICISM ERAS OF ARTISTS. WHAT ARTISTS INSPIRE YOUR WORK AND STYLE?

The artist that inspires me the most is Michelangelo and any one else of that period they were all geniuses. Then of course Roman and Greek sculpture and frankly anything from Venice. I’ve not been there yet but it is a place I would probably just OD in I probably just wouldn’t be able to handle all that art.

• IS THERE A STORY, A LANDSCAPE OR A CHARACTER THAT YOU PARTICULARLY LIKE THAT INSPIRES YOU?

It’s funny but the sky inspires me. I look up at a sunrise or a sunset… there’s nothing more beautiful than those colours in the world.

• DOES YOU WORK FROM IMPULSE HEAD ON, OR DO YOU WORK WITH A KIND OF DELICACY, SLOWLY?

I work in a very delicate slow kind of way, because with a lot of the sculptures I work on it’s about creating a real personality and character. You are trying so hard to show a look on the statues face, a glint almost in the eyes etc., it’s a difficult challenge. People want a fine finish, this usually means real detail and a polished clean finish all over the statue.

• ON WHAT SCALE – BIG OR SMALL – DO YOU CREATE YOUR WORKS?

Statues can be built to any size, personally I seem to sculpt most things life size weather human or animal. I have made small sculptures and I once worked on a tree sculpture that was 18 feet tall. The tree sculpture was so exciting because of the shear size, but small works can have a beautiful cuteness about them.

• WHAT DOES YOUR AVERAGE WORK DAY LOOK LIKE?

My average work day is to sculpt half and communicate half, I have to build statues but I have to promote as well. I will sculpt from 8:30am – 2:30pm then for the rest of the day I have to talk to people etc., to build up the reputation, this way you keep the works coming and the promotion going.

• ONCE YOU HAVE MADE YOUR CHOICE, HOW DO YOU PROCEED TO ACHIEVE THE CARVING? WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT STAGES OF YOUR WORK?

I don’t overly talk about stages and technical aspects because in some ways you would be giving secrets away. Lots of techniques in art can take years to master so I don’t always shout it out aloud. There is so much competition you have to be careful that others won’t steel ideas etc.

• HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE ON AVERAGE TO SCULPT YOUR WORKS?

How long does a statue take, my art teacher would say how long is a piece of string. I’ve worked on a statue once for 3 years, I’ve also made a statue in 3 days, it would depend on what a perspective client wanted.

• YOUR SITE MAINLY PRESENTS REALISM… DO YOU PRACTICE OTHER FORMS OF SCULPTURES?

Nearly all of my works have been about realism, I must say though I’m starting to have ideas for abstract works . It’s just weather I have the guts to put these ideas into practice and build the statues. I probably do prefer realism though.

• WHAT MARKETING AND PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES HAVE YOU FOCUSED ON TO BUILD YOUR BUSINESS?

I am just really starting to set up my artistic venture now in terms of trying to run my art as a business. In the past I had always created art directly for other people who then would sale it on as their branded works. But now that I want to create my own brand of art works I suppose at this stage my marketing will be done on social media.

• HOW DO YOU ATTRACT MOST OF YOUR CLIENTELE?

At this stage social media, and word of mouth.

• DO YOU ORGANIZE OR PARTICIPATE IN EXHIBITIONS?

All of my works are privately owned by the people that buy them and there for not on public display. I think that the only time I ever did an exhibition was when I was at school and of course when I was part of the animation team. Everything we worked on there was for public show be it displays, theme park attractions and shows etc.

• WHAT ARE YOU FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT BEING AN ARTIST?

My favorite thing about what I do is that you build something from nothing, I take a blob of clay and shape it in to something beautiful. I get a real delight over the fact that it grows and shapes up right in front of my eyes, I just love to sculpt.

• HAVE YOU EVER TAUGHT OTHERS HOW TO SCULPT?

Not yet but when I get older and I don’t have a sharp eye and a steady hand anymore that may be the time I start to teach or advice. I will have so much behind me and will be able to use that in order to help and assist. New younger artists that are coming up and trying to find their way.

• COULD YOU INTRODUCE THE CREATION YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF AND TELL US THE REASON?

I am very proud of my statue called Little Boy Tom, I built this work of art during a dark time in my life. I had lost someone and I was very sad but I set to work on this beautiful statue of a little boy and some how gave him this happy look on his face. During this dark time I pulled off a statue of this adorable little character and created real charm on his face when there was nothing but sadness on mine. I have sent you a photograph of this statue with this message. To me this statue of Little Boy Tom is timeless and I’ll always be very proud of this sculpture.

• HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PHILOSOPHY AND MISSION AS AN ARTIST?

I just want to make beautiful works of art, I believe that my true mission is to create beautiful bronze cast statues. My preference would be to create statues that would be cast in bronze and finished in violet purple and blue tones. Set on a black polished marble base, this could make for very classy works of art for inside the home. I am also keen to develop some of my photographs of my statues into black and white framed canvas prints. I feel that some of these photos could be turned into beautiful wall art. I also believe that as an artist you never stop learning it is just a creative journey that has no end to it , and that is exciting.

• WHAT DO YOU HOPE IS YOUR LEGACY AS AN ARTIST?

This one’s easy, I think that as an artist you hope that you can leave something behind that is beautiful and matters to people long after you are gone. I hope my works will mean something long after me and that people perhaps will still want to own them.

• IF YOU COULD TRAVEL BACK IN TIME AND GIVE YOURSELF ADVICE ABOUT FINDING SUCCESS IN THE FIELD OF SCULPTING, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

If I could go back I would tell myself to learn more about anatomy , this is my weakness I should have did more in terms of book learning . Almost like a doctor would, the more you know about what is going on ,on the inside the more you will be able sculpt the shapes on the outside . It’s about understanding bone structure and muscles these day’s if I get stuck I grab my anatomy book and kind of work it out there and then . That is good advice for up and coming artists, learn your anatomy.

• DO YOU WANT TO SHARE SOMETHING MORE WITH US?

What I would like to share is that I am starting to become very interested in the USA. I think it’s going to get to the point where I would like to go out there and work on artistic collaborations and projects . Through Instagram I have met people from America. I am seeing what they are doing and perhaps I want to be a part of their creative worlds. I want so much to work on collaborations with American artists and also to build my very own works for them. It could make for a very interesting artistic life if I could split my time between London and the USA .

• ANY FINAL WORDS OF WISDOM FOR ASPIRING ARTISTS?

All I can really say in terms of wisdom, is practice and practice it does make perfect in the end. As an artist you will never stop learning it is like an endless journey honing and tweaking your skills all the time . And perhaps each project is a little better than the last and sometimes not. Take time. I would say never rush art because it will show. If you put a lot into a work it will show and people that are interested in owning your work will see that. Steve, thank you so much for your time and insight into your world. All good things to you!