Affiliates

Maes Y Pant Fort
Maes Y Pant Fort 700 400 Simon O'Rourke
Although most of our carving is done by Simon O’Rourke, we have affiliates who work with us on certain projects that we can also recommend if Simon is not available for a commission. This week our blog features one of those projects: The Maes Y Pant fort.

The fort at Maes Y Pant, Marford*

Maes Y Pant is a former quarry, which is now a forested area run by local communities, local to us here in North Wales. It features woodland trails and a children’s play area, and is of particular interest to conservationists because of the unusual Bee Orchid which can be found there.  Our work is found in a few different places, and visitors are actually greeted at the entrance to the park by ‘Stanley’ – a previous carve of Simon’s. Whilst it’s a privilege to be able to travel and see our work in places around the world, there is also something special about a local project that enables us more easily to see people enjoying it over the years.

Stanley greets guests at the entrance ***

The brief for this project was to construct a play area and fort within a palisade for families to use, which would also reflect and portray the wildlife on the site. The bulk of the job was completed by our affiliates Nathan Woods and Daniel Barnes over nine days in Spring 2017 , and was constructed using part of the commercial softwood crop that helps fund the site.  Not only did this provide an affordable and easy-to-access source of timber, it also ensured that the build is totally sympathetic to the surrounding environment.

Welcome sign by Nathan Woods at the Maes Y Pant fort*

This then left Nathan with one day for detailing – the sign, carved weaponry, and the dragons on the see-saw. After all, what’s a fortress without some weapons?! These are all historical weapons such as bows and arrows and swords, which is in keeping with the historic aesthetic of a fort, and not only looks great, but helps encourage and inspire imaginative play in the children using the area.
In asking him about the project, Nathan reflected that “Thankfully the weather was unusually kind for the time of year and the work, whilst being ‘intensive’ went according to plan” – something that is never guaranteed carving at this time of year, and that we are ALWAYS thankful for when it happens!

Nathan’s weaponry detailing on individual posts in the fort*

The second phase was completed in January of this year, when Nathan returned for two days to complete this wonderful bee totem pole, and welcoming ladybird seat –  further reflecting the local wildlife, and creating a rest space for families to pause and enjoy the environment or watch their children play.

Bee totem pole and ladybird bench*

If you happen to be in the area, why not tag us in your photos? It’s lovely when a project is both beautiful and functional, for us to be able to see it being used and enjoyed.

Local boys enjoying the fort this summer**

 

Nathan is a hugely experienced tree carver, and has worked for/with us for just over 10 years, over many different projects ranging from when we were just a tent in a frozen field to the current set-up! He can  currently only be commissioned for work through Tree Carving.
Daniel is a gifted carpenter and has worked with us for four-and-a-half years. He specialises in high quality, bespoke work and especially enjoys making and installing kitchens and doors, and creating furniture in its organic form. He can also currently be contacted through Tree Carving.
* Photo credit Nathan Woods
** Photo credit Yvonne Ankers
*** Photo taken from Maes Y Pant website

Woodland Friends
Woodland Friends 150 150 Simon O'Rourke

This week Simon (photographed here on day one) has been working on a couple of commissions for local gardens; transforming the trunks into woodland themed sculptures.

Working on the first sculpture of the week

 

During the week, a fox, owls, woodpecker and squirrels appeared in the timber, as well as the timber being given the realistic-looking shape and texture of a tree, with added details like knots, branch stumps and nut hatch that regular followers will know are typical of Simon’s sculptures. Each of the animals carved was given a story of its own too, with attention being given to the focus, expression and movement of each. Although each of the animals is clearly alive and participating in the life of a forest, one of the beautiful things about these sculptures is that they are not so prescriptive that they tell the whole story, leaving aspects to the imagination of the onlooker.

Woodland scene number two from the week

 

Who or what is the fox watching?

What is it behind the owl that has caught his attention?

Is the squirrel running for play, returning to its home in a hurry to avoid a storm, or looking for escape as it’s chased by a local dog out walking?

Maybe something about the eyes and expression or the movement reminds you of a scene from a childhood story of woodland creatures?

Visit our Facebook page for yourselves to see more photos and videos of the finished pieces, and fill in those gaps in the stories for yourselves. Feel free to leave a comment on our photos and videos too, letting us know what you thought!

 

Exciting start to 2018!
Exciting start to 2018! 150 150 Simon O'Rourke

A very happy new year to you all!

We hope that your January so far has been really brilliant and not blue at all.

Ours has been crazy cool, with lots of commissions, meetings, networking and travel, but the most exciting thing was having the Stihl GB team come to film Simon with their fab marketing team and film crew, HROC!

Here’s a couple of snaps from the day a couple of weeks ago and there will be some fantastic video footage being released in early March, so watch this space!

Lights, Action Camera!! OLFI? what’s that?
Lights, Action Camera!! OLFI? what’s that? 150 150 Simon O'Rourke

I know what you’re thinking, but those words are the right way round!

I have been using the amazing little OLFI action camera for a year now, and it’s an incredible bit of kit!

My most recent time-lapse videos are filmed on it using the really useful video lapse setting, which saves the time of stitching together all the photos in separate software.

Click on the link or the picture to see what all the fuss is about! #OLFI = One Life Film It!

OLFI Action Camera

A crazy Summer!
A crazy Summer! 150 150 Simon O'Rourke

Well after the craziness of RHS Tatton, you would have thought that we might have put our feet up a little bit and had a rest…… Nothing could be farther from the truth! After the success of Tatton, we then embarked on the ‘Fab Four’ project and the ‘Ark’ exhibition in Liverpool and Chester respectively. Needless to say that the Beatles sculptures went down very well indeed in their home city, and much fun was had at Chester Cathedral making junk and nature sculptures with the families who signed up to the free workshops that were put on as part of the ‘Ark’ sculpture exhibition which is actually still on until October 10th.

Ark Exhibition

Following all of that is now the Landscape 2017 expo in London, www.landscapeshow.co.uk/, and then the Llangollen food festival, www.llangollenfoodfestival.com/, as well as lots and lots of exciting and varied projects in between times! Phew! 🙂

The Beatles Sculptures are still currently up for auction… we believe! There was a high bid of £15,000 put in a week or so ago and we are just waiting to hear if this is the final bid or whether someone else may still pip this current bidder to the post! All monies from the sale of the Beatles Sculptures are going to the very worthwhile Variety Club Children’s Charity GB.

Any more bids over £15k to @pierheadvillageliverpool please via their facebook page, thank you!

We’ll be back again soon with more updates from our crazy world!

Liz, Si and Dan 🙂IMG_9494  beatles complete

 

 

 

Summer events!!
Summer events!! 150 150 Simon O'Rourke

It’s going to be a very busy summer for us, involving the Beatles, dragons, nature sculpture and more!

Here’s the definitive list…

Artist residency at Erddig: July 11th and 12th August dates tbc…

The Rhug Country Fair: July 8th and 9th

Sculpture and outdoor furniture featured in two Tatton RHS gardens: July 19th – 23rd

Woodfest Country Show: July 29th and 30th

Junk sculpture and Nature sculpture workshops at Chester Cathedral: Every Friday in August

Creating a 3 metre sculpture at Chester Cathedral: every Saturday in August

Creating the Beatles at Pier Head Village in Liverpool: 12pm – 6pm, August 6th, August 13th, August 27th, August 28th

Hemlock the Dragon, appearing at the Denbigh Show: August 17th

Landscape 2017 in Battersea: September 19th and 20th

Halloween trail at Erddig National Trust: October

Pumpkin Carving Workshops at Hamper Food Festival Llangollen: October 14th and 15th

Erddig National Trust!
Erddig National Trust! 150 150 Simon O'Rourke

As artist in residence I will be producing a carving for the National Trust that will be auctioned off to raise money for the charity!

The dates I will be carving this piece are on the 11th and 12th of July, so come and watch!

I’m also carving some smaller pieces on the 4th and 5th so anyone is welcome to come and see me in action!

Here’s a couple of pieces I’ve created so far, inspired by the wonderful property and it’s history…

IMAG0438 IMAG0673

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