There are two series of “Landscape Bronzes” - 11 small and 5 larger bronzes.

My “landscape bronzes” are based on the idea of the transformation of something which is apparently without value (like a dead twig or branch or an uprooted root ball of a tree; something we would start a fire with, step on without thinking, or leave to rot)

into something valuable and worthy of notice when it is remade in a precious material like bronze, and into an artwork.

The method of making these bronzes is interesting: molten bronze, at 1200 degrees celsius, is poured directly onto the wood and the wood literally vaporises.

I really like the idea that all that is left is the translation of the wood into something else – the original is gone – all that’s left is the derivative, or, in a metaphorical sense, its shadow.

The bronze is originally a pretty pinkish gold colour when it comes out of the foundry process and then patination with chemicals is done. That’s an important part of the production process – to turn the bronze into greys with some whites and brown and greens,

so that the bronze sculpture eventually looks quite a lot like the original piece of root or piece of dry wood. I like that ambiguity in the work.