I worked as a clinical psychologist in the NHS for over 30 years but always found time to make sculptures and other 3D works - as presents for others or as therapy for myself. A few years ago I took early retirement to do the 3 year Foundation Degree in Contemporary Art Practice at Shrewsbury College and Staffordshire University.
One result of being on the course was that I moved from only making relatively small-scale sculpture dealing with the human form, to include larger works in a wider variety of materials and media.
Projects undertaken for the course included a guerrilla art project on the myths and legends of Earl's Hill near Pontesbury, Shropshire where I live, and the making of a life-size wicker bull, which was the focus for a community celebration of the legend of the Roaring Bull of Bagbury, in the village of Hyssington, Powys. I also made an automaton and a video tent installation for an exhibition dealing with the legacy of the British Empire in India, and a series of sculptures and drawings inspired by the 'Crow' poems of Ted Hughes.
Since finishing the course I have made a number of works for Shropshire Wildlife Trust celebrating the otters on the river Severn and a large floating sculpture as part of a project to raise awareness of the decline in curlew populations locally and nationally. I also ran a stall at the Merefest festival in Ellesmere where festival-goers could contribute to the construction of a giant Bog Asphodel, one of the endangered plants of the Meres and Mosses Nature Reserve.
Most recently, prompted by the purchase of a kiln, I seem to be back in a phase of making small, figurative, ceramic sculptures.