In these two projects, I was interested in identifying how far my own creative approach would be modified and enhanced by the need to incorporate the design methodologies often associated with commissioned and applied art. Eurhythmy was a fountain commissioned for Wansbeck Hospital in Ashington, Northumberland. Water falls gently from the centre of a copper bowl over a finely cut lattice of stainless steel that represents a figure, dolphin and an octopus swimming together. It is designed to create a feeling of well-being and is a metaphor for the potential healing powers of water and nature.

Crown of Thorns a circular metal ring of generic stick figures surrounding a simple wooden cross was made after extensive consultation with the parishioners of St Marks Church, Shiremoor in Northumberland who commissioned the work. The sculpture is designed to enliven the rather stark exterior wall of the Modernist architecture and identify the building as a church, important criteria outlined in the brief.

Eurhythmy – Fountain for Wansbeck General Hospital, Sited in the entrance courtyard Copper bowl (3000mm diameter), stainless steel and boulders. Detail view.

This work was commissioned by Northumberland County Council under their percent for art policy. The Council were seeking a significant landmark feature adjacent to a new bypass. The sculpture is 30m long, and constructed with the help of drystone wallers in stone and marble. It was designed to integrate with the rural environment, create awareness about ecology and provide a link with the nearby Countryside Centre. By making reference to archaic hillcut figures, and by representing an animal familiar to the English imagination I was seeking to identify an image that could act as a popular and powerful metaphor to convey the importance of celebrating rural cultural traditions and the countryside.

This large-scale model of an imaginary monument was made after completing a year as an Artist in Residence within the Planning Directorate of Doncaster MBC. It was initially made as a satirical response to consumer culture and a playful parody commenting on Public Art. The model using items from a throwaway society and children’s toys is built around a tree. By continuing to occasionally add small discarded items that I find interesting the work has become a kind of personal record of my own encounter with the detritus of contemporary life. It has been exhibited frequently where the combination of everyday found objects existing in their own miniature world is particularly popular with children. One observer commented when looking at the spiral of assembled objects that represent the outside world how the sculpture prompted him to ‘think about the future and how trees may one day become fragile objects venerated like museum exhibits, to be peered at through a glass case’.

Many of the projects shown here are distinct from my other work because they were undertaken as practice based research projects to identify some of the challenges of producing work in public contexts outside galleries. For example, I was interested in evaluating how far the need to respond specific briefs and engage in a consultation process with the public would influence my practice and challenge my working methodologies. They were produced during a period when I was carrying out an Mphil research programme called Art in Architecture and the Environment; when I worked as the Town Artist for Doncaster MBC in a 1 year placement based in the Planning Department; and after I had returned from the United States where I was examining Public Art as part of a 1 year Harkness Fellowship.

Monument to Doncaster	Prudhoe Badger	Hospital and Church Commissions	Maquettes and Studies	Proposals