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Limited Edition Bronze | Bronze Shell
Shell is a limited-edition bronze sculpture rooted in my lifelong fascination with the natural world, and more specifically with the shoreline landscapes of south west Scotland. Growing up in Galloway, I spent countless hours exploring caves and rock pools along the coast at St Medan, where my father’s farm met the sea. At low tide, the shoreline revealed small treasures: forms that, even as children, we were instinctively drawn to for their beauty and intrigue.Â
Whelk shells gathered from sand and rock pools were not formed by mathematics, but by time and survival: their evolution can be described through mathematical conventions, rather than driven by them. As we grew older, that curiosity became labour. We collected shells in hessian sacks and sold them by weight to local fishermen; a cold, arduous job carried out against the tide, yet one that embedded a deep, physical understanding of material, form and value. Those early experiences stayed with me and continue to inform how I observe and interpret sculpture.
The sculpture itself is based on the whelk shell, whose logarithmic spiral can be described through precise mathematical relationships yet reads as entirely organic. In translating this natural form into bronze, I have taken a degree of poetic licence; using the shell as a point of departure, then subtly refining proportions and transitions so the work resolves as sculpture rather than as a literal replica. The challenge lay in maintaining continuity through the curve while keeping the surface calm, measured and uninterrupted, requiring careful control throughout modelling, mould-making and casting. The result is a contemporary bronze sculpture that balances organic movement with sculptural restraint, equally suited to private collections, architectural settings and landscaped environments.
The examples shown alongside this text focus on works that sit within a defined physical scale. These include a small bronze Shell finished in a traditional brown patination, sized to sit comfortably in the palm of the hand, a desktop-scale version finished in silver nitrate patination and presented on a white quartzite base within a gallery setting, and a larger Shell shown outdoors, exhibited on a plinth cut from glacial Scottish whinstone and positioned within a garden landscape. Together, these works demonstrate the sculpture’s versatility across intimate interior and considered exterior contexts.
Shell has also been exhibited on our Main Avenue trade stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, a stand inspired by my Galloway home. This included a striking example at four feet in length, shown on the stand, reinforcing the sculpture’s presence at larger scales. The first of these pieces has since found its way to an existing collector and will be positioned within sight of the sea, a setting that feels entirely appropriate for the form. It is reassuring to know that this is someone who has followed my work for many years, and that the same forms continue to resonate across different materials. While bronze, slate or glass each bring their own qualities, it is ultimately the form itself that carries the work: a common thread that is both enjoyed and understood.
Shell is available from approximately 4½ inches in length through to truly monumental scales. Larger works are produced as exclusive limited editions of ten or fewer, sand cast in bronze, while smaller sizes are produced using the lost-wax casting method in larger editions. A traditional brown patination remains the most common finish, with alternative patinas available to suit architectural context, interior design schemes or landscape settings.Â
All works are signed, dated, numbered and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.
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Every sculpture begins with a conversation. Whether you’re considering an existing work, or exploring a bespoke commission, get in touch to discuss possibilities and availability.
