"Elegance of line, high contrast of materials, colour and texture are beautifully evident in works derived from the artist’s direct experience of the landscape." hi-arts.co.uk 2008.
Artists
History
After completing his Foundation Training in Art and Design Daniel began studying 3D Design Ceramics at Loughborough College of Art and Design (1994). During this training, it became clear that it was the area of metal and sculpture that excited him most so it was then he changed direction. He began training and working as a Bronze Chaser at Pangolin Editions, a fine art foundry in the South West of England, (1997). In 2000 he moved to Scotland, during this time spent in foundries he continued developing his chasing skills working on a variety of challenging projects, which ranged from scales of 5cm to 30 ft. (See metal working section for more details). Daniel decided he wanted to return to his first passion of designing and creating, he has now set up his own studio workshop with small agallery space from his home in Glenferness on the edge of the Cairngorm National Park.
The Work
Daniel creates limited Edition Bronze Sculpture and has now come full circle
to also making one off handbuilt and thrown ceramic pieces. Daniel draws his
inspiration from the beauty and isolation of the Highland landscape that surrounds
his home. Themes in his work consider the presence and significance of the human
form when placed among the powerful natural landscape as well as the natural
light that is so unique to the mountainous Highlands ths is a constant sourse
of inspiration which is reflected in many of the colours and surfaces he uses
in his work.
Bronze
All of Daniels bronze sculptures are Limited Editions pieces. The process he uses involves hand forming the form firstly in clay; he chooses to sculpt rather than mechanically turn the form which gives each piece it’s own character. Once cast using the ancient lost wax technique: (See Process button on Bronze Gallery page.) Each piece requires welding, finishing, polishing and or patinating; something that Daniel chooses to do him self. In Daniels current bronze work the final surface is a highly polished finished which allows the bare bronze to be exposed and ntural reflections are visable, therefore permitting the piece to take on its own persona in which ever light and environment it is situated.
Ceramics
Daniel chooses to build his ceramic vessels in earthenware clay using traditional throwing, coiling and hand building techniques, firing to temperatures of 1100 degrees. His current collection of pieces explores aspects of his bronze ideas in terms of surface finish. Creating finishes that illuminate the richness and shine of metallic materials. He achieves such effects through experimentation with lustres, at times applying several layers to one piece. Daniel also explores more natural ways of producing a finished surface through a smoke firing process, the beauty of this traditional technique means that any one piece may never be quite the same.
Scottish Potters Association
Visual Arts Scotland
No Mans Land Gallery. Aberlour - Gallery Artist June 2005- June 2006
Castle Street Gallery. Inverness - Summer Mixed Exhibition 2005
Gallery Heinzel. Aberdeen - Mixed Winter Exhibition 2005
Castle Street Gallery. Inverness - Mixed Winter Exhibition 2005
32 Gramercy Fine Art Gallery. New York - Mixed Exhibition Tartan Week’ April 2006
Larks Gallery, Braemar. Scotland - Mixed Summer Exhibition 2006
Powderhall Gallery. Edinburgh - Autumn Mixed Exhibition 2006
Logie Steading Art Gallery Moray - 15th Spring Exhibition 2007
Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh - Visual Arts Scotland Annual Exhibition 2007
Six Cities Design Festival, Inverness - Analach Inspirational May 2007
Six Cities Design Festival, Inverness - Designs in the Making May 2007
Inchmore Gallery, Inverness-shire - Gallery Artist Spring 2007
Tore Gallery, Inverness-shire - Summer Exhibition 2007
Thin dog Gallery, Cirencester Gloucestershire - Summer Exhibition 2007
Limetree Gallery, Fort William. Scotland - HOS Members Exhibition October 2007
Broughton Gallery, Biggar, Scotland - Scottish Potters Today Annual Members Exhibition Nov 2007
Inchmore Gallery, Inverness-shire - Christmas Exhibition November 2007
Scottish Parliament Edinburgh. Scotland - Analach Inspirational Exhibition December 2007
Torrance Gallery, Edinburgh - Winter Exhibition 2008
Green Gallery, Buchlyvie, Stirlingshire - Spring Exhibition 2008
Cone 9 Ceramics, North Berwick - Spring Exhibition May 2008
Strathearn Gallery Crieff - Mixed Summer Exhibition June 2008
Cone 9 Ceramics, North Berwick - Silversmith Exhibition June 2008
Bridge View Gallery, Aberdeen - Summer Exhibition July 2008
The Framework Gallery, Troon, Ayrshire
Tomintoul Gallery, Tomintoul, Moray
Hebridian Jewellery, Fort William,
Tighnabruaich Gallery, Argyll
Cone 9 Ceramics, North Berwick
Mull Pottery, Tobermory, Isle of Mull,
Sheila Fleet Gallery, Kirkwall, Orkney
The Flat Cat Gallery, Lauder, The Borders.
Festival Theatre, Pitlochry, Perthshire
Mallaig Art Gallery, Mallaig, Lochaber
Artery Gallery Ltd, Crieff & St Andrews
Timespan Gallery, Helmsdale