Heritage
I have significant expertise in reconstructing Pictish stone carvings, which brought me to the Tarbatness peninsula in the North-East Scottish Highlands where I now reside. Pictish art is ubiquitous throughout the area, and I have been heavily involved in bringing this rich heritage to life by reconstructing important works of art such as the Hilton of Cadboll stone.
Hilton of Cadboll Pictish Stone (Phase 1)
Completing both phases of this project took approximately 5 years of tireless work by hand. I used a traditional mallet and chisel as the original Pictish artist would have to reconstruct a 4m double sided monument depicting the arrival of a Pictish settlement. I had to use thousands of fragments uncovered during archaeological digs in my efforts to reconstruct the original design as closely as possible, giving me deep insight into centuries-old artistic method and style.
Hilton of Cadboll Pictish Stone (Phase 2)
I worked alongside Glasgow University Archaeology Department during a 10 week excavation and analysis of the Hilton of Cadboll Chapel site, in which over 3000 fragments from the original sculpture as well as the missing base were discovered. Being involved in finding these fragments gave me an even greater appreciation for the artistry of the Pictish people. Over a period of ten months I developed the design for the 'Cross Face' of the Hilton Stone reconstruction, influenced by the fragments I had become so familiar with. The next 3 years were spent carving the sculpture in-situ next to the Chapel site.
Aberlady Cross
Aberlady Trust commissioned a full-scale reconstruction of how the Aberlady Cross may have looked based on fragments that were found in the area, now on display at The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. The original fragments, Picitsh in origin, show a Northumbrian influence in their design. This sculpture was carved from Scottish sandstone, stands 4m high and is situated in the coastal village of Aberlady near Edinburgh.
