Happy clients

I delivered the final two mosaics for a client in Surrey yesterday. The garden has recently been re-designed by a Hampton Court Show gold and silver gilt winner and is absolutely beautiful. It was very flattering to be asked to produce three exterior wall mosaics to complement the garden designs!

They are such lovely and generous people to make mosaics for as we always have a lunch made from fresh produce from their allotment and a glass of something bubbly - it is a true celebration. In true British fashion I find it a bit embarrassing as it is usually just relief that I have designed and made something someone else finds either beautiful or useful (to quote William Morris).

Anyway, the sun shone so final grouting could be done once the boards were positioned on the wall of the courtyard.

On the train going to deliver the pieces I was inspired to start sketching some ideas based on ram's horns after seeing two in a field as we dashed by. I am always amazed by motifs that keep re-appearing in my work (some from over twenty-five years ago as a student). I would like to work on some designs that are for general sale so keep an eye out for my next blog.

The Dragonfly and the Lizard

There is always a huge amount of trepidation when delivering a piece of artwork to clients. Despite all the discussion, sketches, emails and drawings there is always the te-dah moment as you unveil the thing that has occupied your mind and hands for some time. It is very different when someone is choosing your work in say a gallery or at a fair. Here are photos of some of the preparation work...

So I trooped off to deepest Surrey this week with the latest mosaic design swathed in acres of bubble wrap. Happily the clients loved the design and I was relieved that the colour scheme fitted just as I hoped in their beautifully-landscaped garden - it is a very lovely garden. Just as we got to the 'where do you want it to be on the wall in your garden' bit the skies opened so we retreated to drink Prosecco inside.

The rain wasn't about to stop so we donned raincoats and stood in the rain whilst trying to secure the mosaic to the garden wall. It now sits on a London brick wall with a great tree fern to emphasise the pre-historic scaly feel of the lizard.

And the lovely thing is that they would now like a further two more mosaics on a similar theme for an adjacent wall. There is something very satisfying in craft where you create something from nothing. I am hoping that the weather improves so that the sun glints of the gold mirror tiles and creates that movement of light playing across the surfaces.

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