Stone carving is an ancient art. Talented masons and carvers are responsible for Britain's most beautiful and revered buildings and sculptures.
Photo by jackPeasephotography
Following on from the success of our event held at the Bishops Barn in 2018 we have decided to have another run at it in 2024.
Wells Stone Carving Festival will showcase this craft with which the city of Wells has such a strong connection.
Taking place at The Bishop's Barn, a medieval tithe barn in the heart of the city, a group of talented stone carvers from across the UK will spend just three days turning a block of stone into a piece of sculptural artwork.
The artists will be given the same size and type of local stone to produce a free carved piece created from their own imaginations. Come and see the dedication and skill this unique craft requires firsthand, try your hand at letter cutting and carving and bid on the artwork you'd like to own on the final day auction. This event is a fantastic opportunity to own an individual piece of art crafted by some of the most talented people in their field.
Read our event poster.
About The Bishop's Barn
The Bishop's Barn is a grade I listed medieval tithe barn that is linked to the nearby Bishop's Palace and would have originally been used as a grain store.
This scheduled ancient monument is a site of architectural interest and is one of only 200 remaining tithe barns in the UK.
where
The Bishop's Barn
Wells
BA5 1UN
When
Saturday 4 May 2024 10am–6pm
Sunday 5 May 2024 10am–6pm
Monday 6 May 10am–3pm
CONTACT
stonecarvingfest@gmail.com
07774 821 881
What's on
Saturday 4th May
10am-6pm at The bishop's barn
Meet the artists and watch them carve.
Have a go at stone carving and letter cutting.
Enjoy refreshments from local independent food and drink stalls. A market of local producers and craftsmen will be on site where you can pick up some fantastic local produce and art.
Live music.
Sunday 5th May
10am-5pm at The bishop's barn
Meet the artists and watch them carve.
Have a go at stone carving and letter cutting.
Enjoy refreshments from local independent food and drink stalls. A market of local producers and craftsmen will be on site where you can pick up some fantastic local produce and art.
Monday 6th May
10am-1pm at The bishop's barn
Meet the artists and watch them carve.
Have a go at stone carving and letter cutting.
Enjoy refreshments from local independent food and drink stalls. A market of local producers and craftsmen will be on site where you can pick up some fantastic local produce and art.
1PM-2PM at The bishop's barn
View the final sculptures ahead of the auction.
Judging of prize winners.
2pm at The bishop's barn
Prize presentations for best carvings.
LIVE auction.
Meet the Artists
OWEN WHITFIELD
Owen doing his thing at Exeter Cathedral
After studying sculpture at Wimbledon, Owen moved on to stonemasonry where he graduated from Bath College in 2010. “I have been a stonemason at Exeter Cathedral for the past ten years. As part of a small but accomplished team, I have been fortunate enough to be involved in many stone carving projects. Using traditional hand tools and techniques we have been instrumental in the largest program of restoration and conservation the building has seen for a generation.”
Oliver Annaly
Oliver Annaly
Oliver has been a skilled stone carver for over 25 years, progressing from apprentice to head mason. He's dedicated his craft to historic restoration across Britain and Europe, and has captained a snow sculpture team representing Britain worldwide.
One notable project was a 2-meter square red rose fountain, a symbol of remembrance for fallen heroes in a memorial park. Oliver has also contributed to prestigious restoration efforts at landmarks such as Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace, Blenheim Palace, Stowe School, and Salisbury Cathedral.
At the first Wells Stone Festival, he carved a smiling dragon, paying tribute to the famous Wells dragons and adding a touch of whimsy, perhaps inspired by the TV series Game of Thrones
Archie Faiers
ARCHIE FAIERS
Based on the Jurassic Coast, working with all kinds of hand picked local stones containing Fossils and large crystals. Specialising in distinctive abstract sculptures. With an interest in creating pieces with a juxtaposition between natural materials and unnatural form, which has born my interest in large scale faceting. My artistic style has been shaped by my broad masonry experience. Skills that range from precise masonry, bespoke headstones, nameplates and art insulations.
roy martin
Roy Martin is an evolving stone sculptor using discarded stone, recycling it to create unique relief carved pieces and sculptures. His work has evolved into creating bespoke water features that are solar powered giving them the freedom to be located anywhere in the landscape.
He describes his work as ‘Rustic’. Roy explains “I love repurposing the broken stone and getting a feel of what would like to be created with each piece. My style is influenced by Celtic art symbology and its intricate knots and crosses. There is something magical about Celtic design that evokes a world of spiritual connection, community, and nature.”
“I find my approach is constantly evolving and integrating scrap metal pieces and pieces with gold finishes. The scrap metal creates a constant evolving sculpture as it slowly rusts through the flowing in water or in the outside elements”.
Growing Together by Patrick Barker
Patrick Barker
Patrick has been exhibiting his sculptures for many years both in the UK and abroad and his work has been collected all over the world.
DAVID BEAN
David works as a Banker mason Carver for Wolffstone ltd, He completed his apprenticeship through Bath College in 2011. “I get to see and work many different stones for lots of uses, rare are the opportunities for having “fun”. When I have time it’s always a joy”!
beanstonemason@hotmail.com
![stnicholasreliefcarving[2373].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a82fc5ef6576e28554b61fa/1522094758750-2FVIT3R99RT8OUSD8WUL/stnicholasreliefcarving%5B2373%5D.jpg)
![monasticMadness[2372].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a82fc5ef6576e28554b61fa/1522094833639-8HX7LJM5BKCXDDSD4F3Y/monasticMadness%5B2372%5D.jpg)
Alex Waddell
Alex Waddell is a carver and stone mason that has worked in the heritage sector for the past decade. Starting his career in stone at Winchester Cathedral and has since worked on churches, castles other stone monuments Across the UK since. Inspired by the Norman and Gothic carvings Alex Enjoys working in a figurative style and likes his work to exhibit a strong narrative. He had a fantastic time at the last Wells Carving Festival and can’t wait to carve again in such a beautiful historic backdrop.
social media -@alexwaddell.carver
website - www.alexwaddellcarver.com
MARK MCDONNELL
Mark retired from teaching stonemasonry at a College in 2023. He has regularly taken part in stone carving events, three times the winner at Europes largest stone carving festival. He is a Yeoman mason of the Worshipful Company of Masons, one of our main sponsors at Wells stone carving festival.
Will Davies
Will is a true craftsman in stone. He has held many prestigious jobs over his 20 odd years in the industry including head mason of Winchester Cathedral. As a self employed contractor, Will has recently completed the memorial of Ernest Shackleton which was recently installed in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey. Will is helping out with the organising of this years festival and will be carving one of the raffle prizes we have up for grabs.
https://www.instagram.com/will.restoration/
Maya installing one of her beautiful memorial stones
Maya Czajkowski
Maya is a stonemason living and working in Hampshire, specialising in letter carving and stone carving, hand carved the traditional way in my workshop. Maya has taken part in lots of carving festivals in the past. Recently taking part in the Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo in Harbin, China.
web: http://www.mayastone.co.uk
Pippa Unwin
David Davidge
David is a University of Bristol Stonemason. He enjoys carving whenever he gets the chance and loves attending carving festivals. David was one of our original participants in 2018.
Nick Durnan
After a masonry apprenticeship at Canterbury Cathedral and a diploma in
stone carving at the City and Guilds of London Art School, Nick worked many
years working as a sculpture conservator at English cathedrals including Wells,
Exeter, Salisbury, Canterbury, Rochester and Peterborough. His own sculpture is
carved in alabaster which he sources from mainly from North Somerset and
South Wales beaches. Nick also runs weekend stone carving courses at his studio
near Langport.
Ross Southerington
Ross Southerington
Ross is a 35-year-old cathedral-trained stonemason based in the Cotswolds and has been running his own business RS STONEMASONRY LTD since 1998.
Jim Holmyard
Jim Holmyard
Jim (53) has actively been carving since attending a stone carving course at Shute Farm Studies in 2006, led by Laurence Tindall.In 2007 he started stonemasonry training at Bath College and has worked largely in historic building conservation since then. Jim previously worked in sport as a PE teacher, lecturer and sports scientist. His work is influenced by themes of sport, animals and gothic architecture.
Tom Clark
Severed his apprenticeship at Chichester Cathedral as a stone mason.
Tom has been involved all sorts of restoration projects ranging from small medieval churches to Cathedrals and public buildings
His carvings are mainly inspired from Romanesque and medieval carvings and paintings.
You can see more of Toms carving work here https://www.tomclarkstonecarver.co.uk/.
Maire-Claire hamilton
Marie-Claire is a local mason currently working through her further apprenticeship with Gloucester Cathedral and studying for the CWF degree in Historic Building Conservation and repair, details of which can be found here.
We’re looking forward to having yet another Cathedral mason in our ranks.
KATIE HAYES
Katie is a North Lincolnshire based artist, “I hand carve limestone usually in relief with the stone supplied by Lincoln Cathedral stone yard. Studied BA (Hons) in Contemporary Decorative Crafts at De Montfort University Lincoln, graduating in 2002” Katies inspiration is natural forms, nature and the seaside. “I enjoy the challenge of trying to create fluid movement in such a hard, solid medium. I have experienced displaying my work at the New Artist Fair, London and at The Sessions House, Spalding with Lincolnshire Makers. Last year the RHS Hyde Hall event and experienced my first stone carving festival in Halifax.”
You can follow Katie on instagram: Kate.hayes78 and Facebook: KT Stone Carving & pebble art
Our Sponsors
The Worshipful Company of Masons
Marnhulll Stone LTD
G Gibson & Co Ltd
Wells Recreation Ground Trust
Build Hollywood