All stonework made by myself on Portland, part of the Jurassic Coast. Portland stone is an oolitic sedimentary limestone laid down in the Jurassic period and is judged to be one of the best stones for carvability and durability in the U.K. hence its widespread use for London's finest buildings and other buildings around the world. The Portland Stone I use is mainly Basebed, which is relatively shell free, or Whitbed, which has some shell visible. Another bed is Roach which contains coarse shell and fossil.
I carve these by hand using traditional methods and tools, including a mallet, a variety of chisels and a small dummy hammer for fine detail. The stone is worked on a banker (French for work bench I believe). Tool marks are then sometimes rubbed away by hand using water and a carborundum stone.

Portland stone pebbles are not from Chesil Beach. (see links)

Stonework will take on a patina over time if handled a lot. This can help unpainted letters to stand out more. Dust can simply be rinsed off under a tap. Stone can also be cleaned by scrubbing with a stiff bristle brush in warm soapy water.

 

Paypal, cheque or cash accepted.
Free collection on all items. Viewings by appointment.

 

Exhibitions:

Winter 2010/11- Whitestones Gallery, Easton, Portland

Spring 2011 - Portland Sculpture and Quarry Trust, Drill Hall, Easton, Portland
                    - Natural Stone Show, ExCel, London

Now - Sculpture and carvings currently on display and for sale at Portland Heights Hotel

 

 

Testimonials:

To-day we received the memorial stone and are both absolutely delighted with it. It was exactly what we wanted and is beautiful. Thank you so much! - C and J; London

Hi Andrew, It's absolutely beautiful. Thank you so so so much. I will definitely be in touch in the new year with some more commissions. Thank you again. - J; London

Dear Andrew, just wanted to write to say how we are both so very pleased with the stone. It has turned out really well and it is going to fit beautifully in the space it has been designed for. We will send you a photograph when we have put it up, which we will do so after we have made the hay and we can drive it up into the field! Many many thanks again. With best wishes - H ; Somerset

Thank you so much for the gorgeous wedding present. We have it on the windowsill in the lounge and it looks amazing! - G and A; London

Our wedding present is beautiful - thanks so much ! Have been showing it to everyone. - R & T; Jersey

 

 

 

Definitions:

Bibelot: 
"Small object whose value lies in its beauty or rarity."

Off the shelf:
Items that are useful on a bookshelf.

Sculpture:
Free standing and three dimensional.

Carvings:
Reliefs, engravings and lettercutting. Viewed from one side.

Matter:
"Anything that has mass;  Air, water, coffee, fire, human beings, and stars are matter. Light, X-rays, photons, gravitons, information, and love aren't matter."
"To be of importance;
 Love is most nearly itself
When here and now cease to matter (T.S. Eliot)."