This body of work focused on a new hand process, Macrame or Knotting, to create segments of worked cotton or linen that is be immortalised forever in Bronze. The five sculptures created for this collection toured UK Museums and Galleries as part of 'Made In The Middle' exhibition, celebrating makers from the Midlands, which launched in December 2016 at The Herbert Gallery and continued for 18 months.

Hows It's Made:

Each sculpture begins with a sketch and an idea of size and scale required. A section of macrame is made on a cork board using waxed linen thread or dipped cotton cord. To create the hollow forms of the sculpture a negative solid core is required, made from a carved block of investment plaster. The final stage is bringing all the sections together, first the carved core is given a light sand and then the selected panel of macrame work is positioned and held in place with a series of waxed threads. Once the macrame is secured, the wax is worked onto the core and over the sides of the macrame panel until only small sections of knotting are remaining. The wax is sculpted and smoothed with a hot tool. This unique wax and linen sculpture is transported to the foundry to be transformed into bronze using the lost wax technique, where every individual knot and length of thread is preserved. The sculpture is finished with the artists signature stamp, given a polish of bees wax and attached onto it's plinth.

Sold

The Knotted Collection has been sold to a collector, should you wish to commission a similar sculpture please contact us for more details.

Have you seen the Shell Forms? a miniature hand held sculpture that was created using the same technique and features delicate macrame patterns on their surface.

Every sphere begins with a single twist of wax worked over a solid form, as further twists are added the sphere begins to take shape. After weaving is complete the wax sphere is taken through the direct Lost Wax technique to become bronze. No two spheres are alike, with each one capturing delicate movements and swirls. 

The sphere is finished with a coloured patina and marked wth the artist and foundry stamp. These small sculptures are left free standing to allow them to be handled and enjoy the tactile surface of the sculpture.

This collection has almost sold out with only one Mini Bronze Sphere available in the Shop.

This collection of unique cast bronzes focuses on texture and shapes that can be created using the technique of crochet.

Strong sections of 6mm wax cords are held together to create guide lines and highlight open areas of the sculptures. Then fine lengths of 3mm diameter extruded wax are manipulated using the finger crochet technique of chain stitch worked reflectively, the shapes develop almost independantly as further stitches are added.

After weaving, the waxes are carefully packed and transported to Pangolin editions foundry in Stroud, UK where they are transformed into bronze using the Direct Lost Wax technique. A coloured patina is added after casting, then sealed with a layer of protective bees wax. 

Each sculpture is stamped with the artists and the foundry mark, before being attached to a plinth.

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Pieces are available to purchase from the Shop

Textured bronzes were created during a period of artist residencies within historic locations and finished with a solo exhibition in the Long Gallery in Sudbury Hall.

Textured bronzes are created by using an ancient technique called Solid Core casting, first a sketch is made of the proposed sculpture. From the sketch the negative space is imagined as positive space and carved from a solid block of investment plaster. Wax is worked over the surface of the core, adding texture to the surface by hand. 

Both wax and core are taken through the direct lost wax technique which transforms the outer layer of wax into bronze. Once cool a small opening is made in the bronze and the plaster core is removed.

The opening is closed and the bronze finished with a coloured patina and then sealed with beeswax. 

There is opportunity to purchase some of these unique bronze sculptures by clicking on the shop.

This miniature collection features delicate bronze sculptures that fit into the palm of your hand. Displayed in a glass bell jar inspired by natural history collections of sea creatures that create a protective home around them.

Each miniature was hand carved directly in wax and feature intricate macrame work using a fine waxed cotton thread worked directly onto the surface of the sculpture. Transformed into bronze using the traditional lost wax technique, they have a green patina and polished in beeswax.

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Please get in touch with Rachel if you are interested in these pieces