Latest happenings
Take a look at all that I've been up to most recently, from my latest commissions to my workshop creations. Take a look at my gallery for examples of all types of creations that I work on and head on over to my case studies to see some of the commissions that I undertake and the process involved.
I'm calling this the Pond Life gate - it's been fun to create and work on and just look at it in its new home - delighted!
These have been several months in the making and I am still to add and embellish them with more bulrushes and a mallard in flight. You see a plywood version here but a steel one will follow - these gates are huge!
Clients who already have some of my work gave me pretty much free rein on this area of their property - so, I went to work! A gate, some railings and fencing in true Kev style.
During 2021 I developed several new products. One of them was a new version arch - one adorned with marbles that act like cats eyes; behaving slightly differently in different lights. Still a flexible, two-part arch, just with added value!
Here's a bird feeder that I've developed. it has three hooks on the end of the tendrils but could easily have more added. It measures around 7ft tall and you can see it here in the first customer's garden! Available from my online shop
An incredible customer with great vision had some olive trees that are hundreds of years old - they obviously needed housing! Two planters were constructed, alongside a leaf-shaped canopy over the nearby door; all galvanised and patinated to give that lead-style finish: take a look at my case studies page to see the process that I went through to create these pieces.
I took this commission on knowing it wasn't the best time to be taking on another project but it was for very special clients for a very special occasion being marked with a big party. They asked me if I I could make the table but "the only thing is, we need it for Sunday 27th June, can you do it?" Well, I'm delivering it to their home on Sunday 27th for 8am. Talk about the 11th hour!
The design is a take on a table I made a few years ago. It's inspired by willows along the Stour River at Flatford. I've nicknamed the table, Mammoth because of how it stands
A lark sculptural canopy made for a beautiful house creates quite a striking entrance! Constructed using two enormous obelisk-type supports, embellished with giant blue marbles to create seed-head style finishing, the lark is then positioned on top to look as if it's launching itself into the world.
Take a look at my case studies page to see the process from start to finish.
A special order for a friend and client - dragonflies on bulrushes! Glad my posts/website inspire people to think outside of boxes - I'm always happy to chat about modifications or about commissions - take a look at the rest of the website: the gallery, case studies or the shop to get some ideas and get in touch
Keep your eyes peeled for this critter - my fabulously enormous mosquito will be up for sale in my online shop shortly... just waiting to give him a phosphorous coating so that he can be seen in the dark! Fancy this in your garden? By all means get in touch
I've started on the second arbour (you'll remember the original that was to be used at the RHS garden shows and is now in my online shop). This one's big! The leaf form is over 5 metres from top to end of tail, it's not overly heavy but it is a beastie of a canopy. This is going to be pretty spectacular once I've finished it - I've been playing around with the design and may create a second leaf to be one of the supports instead of an obelisk? We'll see what happens ... I'm also designing an asymmetric bench that'll be galvanised and patinated to match the leaf canopy, so that it can sit underneath. Follow me on social media to see progress or drop me a line or give me a bell if you could see this in your garden
A spare leaf that I had left from another project - now made into a really cool leaf sculpture. Take a scroll through the images and you'll see it galvanised. Just waiting final patination treatment then it'll be heading into my online shop
Here's a massive dragonfly that I've been working on in action. With a wingspan of around 6ft and painted in phosphorous paint so that it'll glow in the dark, it'll certainly stand out in its new home! Watch the video - the new owners will have holes sited in their garden so that the dragonfly can move around in its new setting ... love it!
Commissions always welcome - get in touch!
Most jobs begin with a sketch, others then progress with a scale model to help me explain my ideas and gain approval before the metalwork begins. Here's a half-covered archway for along the side of my customer's house, to create a covered walkway but without touching the house. There is also a sheer drop to the other side of the walkway, so this structure needed to create a fence to keep the client's young daughter safe. I spent a day welding this together on site (socially distant, of course) - and then went back and painted it. So pleased that it fulfils both form and function.
I rustled up three pairs of arches for a special birthday for someone quite famous! They were delivered and the client's have sent some pictures of them in situ - don't they look great?!
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Look at my enormous mushrooms (said not many people, ever!) - 12 feet and 10 feet tall. They're big, they're heavy and they're designed to be surrounded by three bespoke obelisks and smothered in marbles so that they sparkle. They are to be set at a distance down the garden by my clients so need to be seen - scale is important here and, obviously, big is beautiful.
I delivered the mushrooms we walked the mushrooms down into the garden and set them up in place (being careful to social distance). They look epic! The three obelisks I made to compliment them turned out to be too much once set up so we moved them to another location. Follow me on social media to see the pics of them in situ.
I've been working on something for my own home out of necessity! This burnished and lacquered steel gate is to be used indoors - it's a dog vs cats gate - I'm sure many of you are familiar with this scenario!? Moose is too eager to muscle in on Rameses, Cindy and Zorro and they're not too keen on this newcomer ... he's not quite as calm and sleek as the cat crew! Let's hope harmony will be soon be restored and the gate eventually becomes redundant.
Let me know if you need any creative metal help with restoring your harmony!
Here's a commission that I've enjoyed working on: 11 decorative stakes to hold a string of lights around client's garden. The lights will be suspended 5 feet above the ground, on the lower ball. The top ball has a small butterfly attached and each stake has the same butterfly but placed in a different position, just to mix it up. These will be left to rust and will look even more amazing in time!
Happy to take commissions right now - I can chat with you about designs and will always draw up an idea before I get to the metal! Socially distant deliveries are still possible - get in touch
I've been working hard on my stand for the RHS Garden Shows that I'm doing this year - first one's in Cardiff a week after Easter and, as far as we know, it's still going ahead. Take a look through images from the original drawing to the canopy welded. It's now gone to be galvanised while I work on the support and all of the other elements of the stand.
I'll add this to my 'case study' area once it's done - it's quite a mammoth project!
Here's a gigantic arbour that I've been working on. it's slowly moving forward and has been both inside and outside the workshop at various stages. you can see the scale model that I made in the video clip below. The customers have seen it an are pleased with the look and feel. The overall scales is fairly epic and it's already starting to feel cosy inside. The structure is in primer at the moment and I'll be adding this as a case study once it's finished - it'll be great to show you the various stages.
Here are some railings that I've had the pleasure of working on for an existing client. The steel balls were firmly attached to the ground - once the base was in place the rail was fitted. Great to be working with customers that I've had the pleasure of working with before. Just one final coat of paint to add... if only it'd stop raining!
Some really good customers who love my work have commissioned the attached sketches. The steel arrives tomorrow and I'll start chopping it up to make these beauties. All to be finished in a low sheen black
The railings and gates are done and now painted, loaded onto the trailer awaiting installation tomorrow morning. I'm really pleased with the finish. I'm looking forward to installing them to finally see them as I intended!
Update: I've now added new dates to my calendar - this year I'm doing (currently), 4 Royal Horticultural Society Garden shows in Chatsworth, Tatton Park, Malvern and Cardiff; great opportunities for me to show my work to a wider audience, and also to have the space to set up some of the larger pieces so that they can be seen in situ. Hope to see you there!?
I've been making a pair of angel wing gates for a client this week - they're finished in a low sheen black and, once delivered, the client's going to install them themselves - I can't wait to see the finished results in situ.
I've got some news that I'm desperate to share - unfortunately it's under wraps at the moment as it's a Municipal project and it needs to be announced through official channels.
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The only things I can reveal are that the project is likely to be on a similar scale to Renard and Claude and it's going to be a permanent installation in a pretty cool place!
Update: 21st January met with the client and I'm working on drawings/prices followed by a scaled down model of the project ... excited
I'm massively excited to be a featured maker at Backthorpe Barns British Crafts Christmas Fair for 6 weeks from 9/10th November through to 14/15th December inclusive.
This magical venue near Bury St Edmunds is all about the festive season. Come along and support the best of British makers this Christmas - read more in my blog
Take a look in my case study section for the full story on this Juliette balcony that I was honoured to play my part in. It's a great tale and one that makes me extremely proud!
I'm very excited that 2020 will see me getting out and exhibiting/selling at several RHS flower shows. Two so far confirmed are RHS Cardiff and RHS Chatsworth flower shows. I've not been successful at the Chelsea Flower Show this time around but I know that it's very unusual to be accepted at the first time of asking! More news to come as I wait to hear from Tatton Park, Malvern and Hampton Court.
I'm working on something that's under wraps until ​the client has seen it ... here's a sneak preview though - it's an idea I had when I thought about my client's situation... intrigued?! Come back soon for final pics!
A canopy that I'm currently working on - it's steel but will be painted with copper powder loaded lacquer and brushed to look like real copper. It's for a thatched cottage in Essex and will sit over a door with glass panels either side. It's in a tricky position between the original thatched cottage and a new black barn extension, and the door is a flat-roofed linear - awkward to fit the canopy against, but then I do love a challenge!
I'm looking at an idea for a huge garden arbour where the whole piece looks and feels very loosely connected. It'll be about 10 feet tall and 12 feet wide. All painted and constructed so that it looks very incidental and whimsical. Hoops of steel without the edges touching imply the strands and tendrils are alongside each other but not connected.
Coffee tables under construction. See the various stages of these stock items. There's the design, the construction, the paint and the lacqueur ... and what a difference a bit of lacquer makes! Finally, the glass is added to the top. These will be on sale in The SHED, Sproughton and also they'll be with me at Blackthorpe Barn.
5 feet wide brick archway/tunnel between two old properties in Ipswich. These gates will add a bit of peace of mind for the clients. My clients agreed the design from the initial sketch and the commission came from them seeing a gate at The SHED, Sproughton. These are to be finished in a pewter colour with marbles all over them. The marbles are going to be backed in green so that they reflect a green glow.
Mixing things up at The SHED at Sproughton. During the winter months, when gardening isn't necessarily a priority, I'll be adding lots of interior furniture. A table I have made from upcycled agricultural products with a plate glass top, two children's beds and a couple of other glass topped tables too
I love a challenge! My customers in this instance commissioned me to make a silver gate with pink marbles. The front door of the property is to be the same pink as in the marbles. It's a striking piece and will certainly be the talk of the neighbourhood!
I've taken my hornets off their sticks! These buzzing, steel creatures have been redesigned so that they can be detached from the steel pole or, in fact, bought without the pole, allowing for them to be posted. Same price (obviously the work is in the hornet itself), but more of a versatile beast!
Almost complete is this Parisien arbour built for customers that I met at Snape Maltings. All that's left is to measure, order and fit the perspex roof and it'll be complete. I enjoy these commissions - one-off projects that challenge my design and making skills are always fun!
Beautiful place for a visit - Suffolk Food Hall. I have my clear glass lawn orbs stocked here within the garden section to the back of
the store.
A pleasant surprise to be sent this image by a friend who spotted one of my gates in Homebuilding and Renovating magazine.
Squirrel-proof bird feeder for exceptional clients who live in a beautiful location on the Suffolk coast. 9 feet tall, 7 feet wide made from mild steel with stainless steel cages holding bird food.
Getting out and about is something that I enjoy - here are a few pictures showing me and my wares at various fairs around the region. From Snape Maltings, to Glemham Hall, from The Suffolk Show and the Tendring Show to Ickworth Hall, I really enjoy meeting new (and old) clients face to face.
Here's what's on my workbench at the moment... coffee table bases. Once the bases are complete, they'll be burnished and given egg shaped glass tops.
Blackthorpe Barn! It really is 'Christmas' at this amazing event - so many of us makers in one space. Doing all of your Christmas shopping at an event like this means that you're supporting small, local businesses and paying it forward. We rely on your support (and look at what fun it is in the process!) Take a look at my calendar - I'm here for the duration!
I created this 7' sculpture as a water-free water feature for the Time Garden at Colchester General Hospital - a commissioned piece to mimic the calming flow of water. The piece, called 'water from unknown source' was developed for the garden, a haven of tranquility for terminally ill patients
All great projects begin as initial design sketches. These are agreed before we even touch any metal. Here I've demonstrated a couple of new commissions: a gate with 'glowing' glass ball details and a 10 ft x 10 ft iron spider / garden arbour
A 20-bottle wine rack - and make it quirky! That was the order of the day for this client. We compromised on 18 bottles in order that this design didn't look too overcrowded! Created in steel and spray painted, the final stage was to add to wine holding elements.
Gates: they're functional but that doesn't mean they can't be creative. I can generally work to most dimensions - from single swing gates to large-span double gates to create a commanding entrance as well as to keep people/pets in/out. Adding glass balls to the detail of gates enhances the design as well as provides a great effect when car light shine on them. Take a look at more here
A recent commission: some gates for a St Osyth barn conversion. An alcove where my clients like to sit out with their dogs; creating a safe area between dogs and road. Pairs of marbles are set into the gates facing the road - in low light they glow, a little like cats' eyes
Very proud that Geoff Stonebanks, one-time presenter of Gardeners World commissioned me to make this wobbly hand rail as a feature in his garden on the south coast. It's about 7 metres in length and was supplied in two parts.
Here are shots of gates that I've just installed in Offton, near Ipswich. Great people to work for as they allow me to run riot with my designs! 12 ft span with a 60/40 split allowing for a pedestrian gate to the side; left as bare steel so that they rust.
Here's me all set up at the Suffolk Show in May 2018 - See my calendar for all dates and places that you'll see me over the coming months - it's constantly updated so pop back soon!
Beginning with a sketched idea, this single gate is designed and then created to be mounted to a single post and to swing shut without fastening
Behind every great creation is an initial sketch. Before any practical work is done, a drawing is agreed with customers to ensure that we're all happy with the final piece.
Five panels and a handrail recently designed and created for a private client. All elements were crafted in my workshop and then built on site.