Cat's Eye Carving

My Shop in Sandwich

I have had such a busy year, so many ups and so many downs, but I try and concentrate on the positive things.

I completed many interesting commissions, from my sculpture of Aloy for a house in Walmer, the compass rose for Sandwich Quay, a Grotesque in the form of a family man, a leaf sculpture and bird bath for a local garden. I even repaired a Tang Dynasty terracotta polo player. I completed many house signs and carved some animal portraits.

My year started off with a broken ankle, but I pushed through. I entered several awards and was shortlisted for a sole trader award. I went to No 11 Downing street as part of the celebrations of these Small Awards.

On the 10th July, what was the hottest day of the year, I met the King at Walmer Castle, we were able to have a quick discussion about apprentices. Something that a lot of you know that I would like to one day be able to offer.

I attended some really interesting events and gave talks to local groups.

I attended the opening weekend of the Maison Dieu, a project that I have been involved with from the beginning. I carved a piece that was presented to one of the directors.

At the sunken garden eco fair, I had 25 people have a go at stone carving and one young lad found that he wants to be a stonemason, at Dover castle I ran my popular activity at the Trans Manche Geo Park festival, roughly 60 people of all ages were able to try their hand at stone carving.

I had fun taking part in two medieval festivals, Le weekend in Sandwich with the Medieval Centre and at Betteshanger Park. People watched me complete the carving that I started way back in 2023, before I moved back to Sandwich. They could also try their hand at stonemasonry.

I had a group of local school children visit my shop in Sandwich, where I gave a demonstration and they took a rubbing of my Invicta horse carving.

14 1st Walmer Beaver scouts came and spent their evening at my shop. I split the group into two and half had a go at at stone carving, while the other half took a rubbing of my Invicta Horse carving. I asked them all to design a grotesque and then the swapped over. We had a competition for the best design and the winner received a carving of their initial. I am really looking forward to doing this more in the coming year.

I continue to carve my commissions and next year, I have some really exciting carving jobs to get on with, one is a portrait that will take me roughly 3-4mths.

My shop has had a bit of a makeover, as I have a problem with the flat roof where I do the bulk of my work, I have moved my more of work forward.

Here’s a short video of my shop from my YouTube channel.

I had quite a few people come and do my 1 hour taster session and one lady had 10 hours for her 80th birthday present, she loved it so much she paid for an extra extra hour.