Slate | Ever Watchful
Ever Watchful was first created in 2008 as a site-specific commission for a home beside a historic Peel Tower near Moffat in the Scottish Borders. These towers were built to keep watch during turbulent times between Scotland and England, and it was this history, combined with the client’s fondness for my sphere sculptures, that shaped the work. I wanted to create a piece with real presence, something protective and dramatic, rooted firmly in its setting.
The original sculpture is a one metre sphere, weighing around 1.3 tonnes, formed by shaping and stacking slate in layers that deliberately sit off the horizontal. This subtle deviation introduces tension and a sense of movement, as though the sphere might slowly rotate or adjust its gaze. It rests on a six-tonne whinstone boulder, which I sourced and moved into position specifically for the site. The proportions and angle were carefully judged so that sculpture and stone feel inseparable.
The defining ‘eye’ is not carved afterwards, but built into the form. Each piece of slate is individually shaped and positioned to create the concave surface, producing a focal point that naturally suggests the act of watching. A rich palette of slate, including heather-toned Penrhyn, Knockfergen, Westmorland, Spanish Black and Caithness, gives the surface depth and a fabric-like texture that draws people closer and invites curiosity.
While this first sculpture is unique to its location, Ever Watchful has since evolved into a series of bespoke commissions. Other examples range from more intimate works to spheres up to 1.5 metres in diameter and weighing over five tonnes. Scale, slate type and base are always resolved in response to place, allowing each piece to sit with authority and intent, grounded, alert and enduring.
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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.
