It’s been a great weekend at the studio, welcoming visitors as part of the Clwydian Creatives Art Trail: looking forward to another three days of open studio ahead…
“Conjured up over the New Year and inspired by some natural shell forms that arrested my attention, later identified as the Aztec deity Quatzalcoatle or, to the ancient Mayan, Kukulkan.
Just in time for the Chinese New Year: 2025, the Year of the Snake. 🐍
All the best for this quarter century!”
– Nick Eames, Sculptor
‘Serpent’ photographed from the side, in silhouette against a white-lit backdrop.
‘Serpent’ photographed from the front, in silhouette against a white-lit backdrop.
‘Serpent’ photographed from the front, illuminated against a black backdrop.
‘Serpent’ photographed from the side, illuminated against a black backdrop.
With the recent ‘Wolf Moon’ on the night of the 17th of January, these two mockups mark Nick’s tribute to this new beginning: ‘Reach’ holding the Wolf Moon in its palms, and ‘Howl,’ well, doing exactly what it says on the tin…
‘Reach’ is inspired by the natural forms of split kindling, and was named by Nick’s son, James.‘Howl’ is being reworked and rebuilt at full scale in Nick’s garden studio this year.
This is the 1:3 maguette of the sculpture ‘Desert Bloom,’ which Nick wishes to build full scale in the landscape – currently in progress at the Barn Studio.
Derived from the forms in a conch shell, Nick is filling out the structure of the original small wire maguette shown here:
The restoration of two mid 19th century Spelter figures: The Reaper (‘Left Handed Luke’) and The Sower (‘Nearly Headless Nick‘) is now complete, and the figures have been returned to their home in Kent, whole again.
‘The Reaper:’ Casting and fitting the arm using Nick’s own epoxy resin spelter match mix.
‘The Reaper:’ Casting and fitting the arm using Nick’s own epoxy resin spelter match mix.
‘The Reaper:’ Casting and fitting the arm using Nick’s own epoxy resin spelter match mix.
‘The Reaper:’ Casting and fitting the arm using Nick’s own epoxy resin spelter match mix.
‘The Reaper:’ Casting and fitting the arm using Nick’s own epoxy resin spelter match mix.
‘The Reaper:’ Casting and fitting the arm using Nick’s own epoxy resin spelter match mix.
‘The Reaper:’ Casting and fitting the arm using Nick’s own epoxy resin spelter match mix.
‘The Reaper:’ Casting and fitting the arm using Nick’s own epoxy resin spelter match mix.
‘The Reaper:’ Casting and fitting the arm using Nick’s own epoxy resin spelter match mix.
‘The Reaper:’ Casting and fitting the arm using Nick’s own epoxy resin spelter match mix.
‘The Sower:’ Hat, wire mesh and Nick’s own epoxy putty spelter match mix.
‘The Sower:’ Hat, wire mesh and Nick’s own epoxy putty spelter match mix.
‘The Sower:’ Hat, wire mesh and Nick’s own epoxy putty spelter match mix.
‘The Sower:’ Hat, wire mesh and Nick’s own epoxy putty spelter match mix.
‘The Sower:’ Hat, wire mesh and Nick’s own epoxy putty spelter match mix.
Both figures waxed and the oak bases oiled: Restoration complete!
Both figures waxed and the oak bases oiled: Restoration complete!
Both figures waxed and the oak bases oiled: Restoration complete!
Both figures waxed and the oak bases oiled: Restoration complete!
The two figures are now fully restored, complete, and ready to return home!
This coming weekend, on the 25th and 26th of September, the ‘5 Senses Collective’ will be exhibiting a selection of their work at Plas Newydd Tea Garden: The Tea Garden will be open from 11AM to 6PM both days, with a delicious selection of coffees, teas, cakes and treats! A huge thanks to everyone who attended our first exhibition weekend on the 4th and 5th of September, who helped to make the exhibition such a success.This exhibition is running in conjunction with, and as a part of, the Clwydian Creatives Art Trail 2021 (also on Facebook).
The restoration of two mid 19th century Spelter figures: The Reaper (‘Left Handed Luke’) and The Sower (‘Nearly Headless Nick‘) continues, with Studio Assistant Ewan Stell.
The slideshow below details the process so far, with captions for each image explaining the stages of the restoration.
The base of The Reaper (‘Nearly Headless Nick’) is drilled to receive the reinforcing studding.
The base of The Reaper (‘Nearly Headless Nick’) is drilled to receive the reinforcing studding.
Pre-shaped studding is bolted in.
The fit is checked.
Prepared for JP Weld Adhesive.
Bonded and supported, while curing.
After sealing inside the legs with packed cling film, the ankles and calves are filled with epoxy resin.
Broken sections of neck reassembled with JP Weld Adhesive.
Collar of mesh moulded into the neck cavity.
Collar of mesh moulded into the neck cavity.
Epoxy putty applied to mesh.
Head pressed home onto epoxy putty, which is modelled into neck forms.
Head pressed home onto epoxy putty, which is modelled into neck forms.
Clamped in place for curing.
Clamped in place for curing.
Remodelling the arm for ‘Left Handed Luke’ on an aluminium wire armature.
Milliput modelling putty applied to the wire armature.
The anatomy built up.
The correct gesture, arrived at by studying the figure’s drapery and forms.
The arm of ‘Left Handed Luke’ is now ready for moulding and casting.
The Reaper (‘Left Handed Luke’) and The Sower (‘Nearly Headless Nick’) side by side, ready for the next stage of the restoration; remodelling and repairing cracks and damaged areas.
The Reaper (‘Left Handed Luke’) and The Sower (‘Nearly Headless Nick’) side by side, ready for the next stage of the restoration; remodelling and repairing cracks and damaged areas.
The Reaper (‘Left Handed Luke’) and The Sower (‘Nearly Headless Nick’) side by side, ready for the next stage of the restoration; remodelling and repairing cracks and damaged areas.
Stay tuned to see the next stage of the restoration process…
The brilliant Sonia Goulding (of turningthestones.com, and recently featured in Acumen’s online guest poetry) has written this amazing article about Nick, his process, and the intentions behind his work, published in print with North Wales Magazine – they’ve done a beautiful job with the formatting and presentation of it, too!
The article can be found on page 11 of the August 2021 edition, so please support the magazine by picking up a copy. You can check out the pages here, but trust us, it’s even better in print (click on the images for a full preview).
Thank you, Sonia and North Wales Magazine! Photos are courtesy of David Allen, Nick Eames and Tim Johnson.