Portfolio — 04

Charred

MEDIUM : Charred wood · Gathered stone

TECHNIQUE : Shou Sugi Ban · Fire drawing

SUBJECT : Geology · Place · Memory

PRACTICE : Since 2022

STUDIO : Various Locations around the UK

04.1 — On the Practice

Geology · Fire · Place · 2022 — Ongoing

My charred works explore the geology of the United Kingdom through fire, material, and place. Using stones gathered from significant sites, I create abstract compositions by arranging them on wood and charring their forms into the surface. The stones do not burn; instead, they leave behind silhouettes — “footprints” that record their presence and origin. I am interested in creating abstract forms shaped by nature itself, allowing heat, grain, and mineral structure to guide the final composition.

This ongoing series draws on locations I visit due to their unique geological structure. The pieces are preserved using the Japanese technique of Shou Sugi Ban, where charring enhances the wood’s texture and durability while protecting it for generations.

The bespoke frames are charred by the framers, allowing them to become an integral extension of the work.

04.2 — SELECTED WOKRS

DINORWIC SLATE QUARRY

Charred Wood · 35.5cm x 29cm

Collected Slate

North Wales

Dinorwic Quarry

North Wales

Parys Mountain

120cm x 90cm

Collected Stones

ANGLESEY

Parys Mountain

Anglesey, North Wales

04.3 — Puddles of Light

Another series in which I work with the charred medium is Puddles of Light. Inspired by fleeting, circular beams of light that fall through gaps in the forest canopy, these works capture brief moments of illumination on the ground below.

I photograph and sketch these forms before translating them into brass stencils, which are used in the charring process. As the metal heats, its edges soften, creating silhouettes that echo the shifting, ephemeral quality of light and shadow.

02.4 — Collecting These Works

Original works · Fire-drawn · One of a kind

Explore my current collection of graphite works, including pieces not featured online.