Tree sculpture in the making

Gina Cox, Curator of Visual Arts, commissioned Ross on behalf of the University of Exeter, after seeing one of his sculptured seats in front of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. She said, ‘The RD&E seat is so popular so I am thrilled that Nigel has agreed to come to Exeter again and carve a seat for us. Nigel captured in the Hospital seat the beautiful colour and shape of the tree when carved. It is this artistic vision and skill will see an exciting unveiling of the Lime trunk here on campus and become a wonderful addition to our acclaimed Sculpture Walk.”

Ross lives and works in Scotland working with fallen trees and creating immense wooden sculptures and his parents lived in Exeter. He travelled down from Perthshire to Devon this weekend and managed to leave before the road from Glasgow was closed due to heavy snow.

The area Ross is working on the tree trunk is behind the Queen’s Building in the wooded area, where he hopes that people will visit to watch the seat and table materialise out of the trunk. The area is cordoned off but a good view is possible. Nigel Ross said “It is good that the potential of this trunk was spotted by the University and I am hoping to not only sculpt a seating area but also a table. I will use the full potential of the wood and not trim down too much”.

Once completed the seat will become part of the University’s Sculpture Walk, joining 24 other sculptures, including works by Barbara Hepworth and Peter Randall-Page set in the Streatham campus grounds and commended as one of the most beautiful in the country. The trees and bushes which were removed as part of the Forum enabling works have also provided 33 beautifully turned bowls by local wood turner Dave Regester, together will a selection of walking sticks which will be ready next year.