pippa unwin
Mediums Used
She is a stone carver/sculptor living in the west country with over twenty years experience. She mainly carves animals and birds in local limestone or marble and alabaster.
My career has been quite varied – I have been 1st mate on a 50’ yacht, written and illustrated children’s books and painted scenery for Salisbury Playhouse, but have always been fascinated with stone and carving. At school in Wells, I spent hours in the Cathedral, absorbed by the energy and humanity of the masons’ work. Later, married to a geologist I learnt about the formation and structure of stone.
I learnt the traditional skills from stonemasons, who treat the stone with respect and honesty; my work is practical and nonsentimental.
I am inspired by art of different cultures, geometry and nature, but mostly carve the natural form – I enjoy trying to capture the animal’s individual character and spirit – discovering more about the stone itself, its limitations and possibilities.
When man first began to use tools he worked with stone. We carry this on today, still using traditional skills on stone formed millions of years ago to create pieces that will last hundreds of years hence.
Sculptures by pippa unwin
Credentials
Qualifications
Illustration at Cambridge College of Arts and Technology
NVQs 2 and 3 in Architectural Stonemasonry and Carving at Bath College,Illustration at Cambridge College of Arts and Technology
NVQs 2 and 3 in Architectural Stonemasonry and Carving at Bath College
I originally trained and worked as a children’s book illustrator at Cambridge Art School and had several books published. However, I was keen to work in 3D, so I studied for NVQs 2 and 3 in Architectural Stonemasonry and Carving at Bath College. I began as an apprentice in Salisbury, but now work freelance, based at a workshop near Kingsbridge, in Devon.
My work varies widely – restoration and stone repair; working with architects on newbuilds, providing everything from finials to fireplaces; and letter cutting and relief carving. My real love is sculpture; especially the animal form.
