Peter Nava

Peter Nava

My work includes both stylised figurative and abstract stone sculptures. My preference is to carve English and French limestones and alabaster. I practise mostly direct carving choosing not to use maquettes or drawings and sculpting freely in a process of discovery.

I particularly enjoy working with reclaimed stone from ancient or historical buildings or stone surplus to restoration work or once worked before by an unknown stone-mason and probably with the same simple tools.

I am most inspired by the sculpture from early civilisations and mediaeval church carvings but also the work of Modigliani, and late 19th / early 20th century French and English artists such as Henri-Gaudier Brzeska, Henri Laurens and Eric Gill.

After retirement from a medical career I finally pursued my intention to learn to sculpt. I happily ignore my medical knowledge of anatomy but explore stylised forms. Serenity and an illusory simplicity are two of the qualities I look for in what I try to create. 

Over the last few years, I joined Jude Tucker, the sculptor and artist in her workshop who has acted as my mentor meeting her weekly with several others.

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