Paul Thomas
Artwork for Paul Thomas
Details
How would you describe the work you do and why?
I use 90% recycled metal to create my pieces any thing from engine parts, tools ect. My main material is drive chains such a bicycle, motorcycle because I find that I am able to creat very tactile large and small pieces by cutting the chains to fit. I often include stone or driftwood into my smaller pieces.
For you what does being an artist mean?:
From the age of 15 I worked in the building trade tiling walls and floors up until the age of 64 when the pressure of work casused me to have a nervous breakdown. One of my hobbies had been black and white photography and I have always been keen on all forms of art. I needed something to focus my life one once I had decided that tiling was no longer what I could do, so I started to make small pieces like candle sticks and clocks from pieces of metal that I had in my workshop. For my 60th birthday my wife had given me a MIG welder and I used this to create my pieces. Gradually over the past 10 years I have created larger pieces using nature and the human form for my inspiration . Working in this way has totally changed my life, I am at my happiest creating in my workshop.
Describe what you call yourself/your practice?:
I am a self taught sculpturer of recycled metal using a MIG welder
Your practice & activities include e.g workshops, teaching:
I work from my home workshop and have a gallery in my garden. I also display my larger pieces at Canwood Gallery in Checkley Herefordshire. The Wye Valley Sculpture Garden, The Nurtons, Tintern, NP16 7NX. I also have pieces the Oxenham Art Gallery in Leominster and Hereford
I take commissions
CV & Education, relevant & leading to your artistic practice:
Self taught welding Sculpturer using recycled metal, stone and some wood
Exhibitions in the last 3 years:
Helens Garden Festival 2024 Helens Manor Much Marcle Herefordshire
Canwood Gallery, Checkly, Herefordshire, HR1 4NF
The Wye Vallet Sculpture Garden, The Nurtons, Tintern, NP16 7NX
Your gallery outlets/stockists:
Paul's Metalcarfting Gallery, Brynithel, Kingstone, HR2 9HJ (at the bottom of my garden)
Oxenham Gallery, 15b Broad Street, Leominster HR6 8BT and 19a Church Street, Hereford, HR1 2LR