For 2026 I wanted to explore low relief a little more in my work, particularly in slate. Slate is such a lovely material to work with and is stunning against the greens and flowers of our gardens. Inspired by some lovely photographs of Calla Lillies I started a piece designed for the garden which displays Calla Lillies on one side and the French proverb on the reverse side – Partout où vie plante vous, fleurir avec la grâce which roughly translates to Wherever life plants you, bloom with grace. Such a lovely sentiment and one intended to inspire the viewer.
In the past I have left the back side of the slate untouched, sometimes because the slate is riven and there is a beauty in that, leaving nature as I found it, such as the back of the peacock garden piece. Sometimes it is has been smoothed but left untouched – for example my Moon in her hand piece which has the line from a Frederic Lawrence Knowles’ poem ‘The night walked down the sky with the moon in her hand’. Leaving one side untouched leaves the option of hanging the piece rather than putting it on a stand. For this particular piace I wanted to explore lettering on one side and low relief on the other, making the piece ideal for placing in the garden where you can see it from either side depending on your approach to it. The piece is not finished yet but coming along … here is a sneak peak …
