Bucks Open Studios along with seven other

talented artists.  The exhibition is to be held at

Wycombe Court House, Church Road, Lane End

HP14 2HG.  Martin will be showing several hand

carved pieces in oak and natural British stone

such as Welsh slate, Portland stone and Cumbrian

slate.  There will be an on going demonstration of

carving of a commission in progress.  Martin will be showing alongside Julie

Wethenall with her beautiful paintings/ceramics/sculpture and glass.  Sue Fawthrop

will be showing her contemporary and vibrant figure and scape paintings.  Caroline

Selvey is exhibiting a collection of her indoor and outdoor sculpture and glass.  John

Ashton is there with his colourful and vibrant paintings.  Sarah Jane Bennett is taking

part with her contemporary collection of jewellery designed in mixed metal.  Tim

Robinson with his mixed media paintings of architectural landscapes and portraits.

Steve Woodbridge is a very talented artist blacksmith who will be showing his

forged steel sculpture.  There is a huge body of work to see and the artist will be

available to chat to throughout the show.  If you would like an invitation to the

Private Viewing please email your request to martincook11@aol.com. We hope

to see you at sometime. 

Gallery Spring Show.  He has three pieces in the exhibition.  A Cumbrian slate bench, a elegant sculptured and lettered oak bench and a Welsh riven slate ‘Enjoy Life’ 

standing stone.  All Martins beautiful garden carvings are made from natural

British stone such as Welsh slate, Cumbrian slate and Portland stone, and hand carved with hammer and chisel in the traditional way.  Carving has been in the Cook

family since 1700s

For more information on The Dadbrook Gallery visit their website

www.dadbrookgallery.co.uk

success with his Artisan Garden,

‘A Literary Garden’.  This year he

has not designed a show garden

but is exhibiting on a trade stand.

The Stand number is PLW8.  Martin,

and his son Matthew will there throughout the week demonstrating carving of a

commission in progress.  This year among the pieces for sale will be a beautiful

portland stone garden table with an inlaid Cumbrian slate sundial. Lyrics by Nick Drake

are carved around the edge of the table.  Martin has been inspired by Nick Drakes

music for many years.  He has a great love of music and one of the pieces on sale

is a huge portland stone column which as been carved with a poem written my Martin

which includes the songs titles from the 70′s.  The letters have been painted to look

like a classic Roman artifact, but it is actually in homage to the great music of Martin’s

youth.  Other pieces on display and for sale will be oak benches, Portland stone wall

panel, slate standing stones and sundials.

On Easter Sunday the The River of Life Memorial was dedicated by The reverend John Simpson.

It comprises of three upright stones representing the Three Persons of the Trinity and is bound together by the Word of God.  It is intended as a focal point in the Garden of Remembrance for the burial of ashes.

The studio has been working flat out over the past few weeks to ensure that this beautiful hand carved Cumbrian slate piece was ready in time. Reverend Simpson visited the studio to see the work in progress and is delighted with the finished piece.  The stones were designed by Martin at the drawing board and the lettering and relief tree of life were carved by hand with hammer and chisel by Martin and his son, Matthew.

This Summer Martin’s work can be seen around the country in various exhibitions.

He will be showing pieces at the Dadbrook Gallery in Thame, Oxfordshire. Also The Garden Gallery, Hampshire and The Bow House Gallery in Barnet.  I will post details of the pieces Martin is showing and exhibition dates later on this month.

Martin can be seen at Chelsea Flower Show again this year with his trade stand. Due to a heavy work load and a list of eager clients, Martin will not be entering a show garden this year.  Martin Cook Studio stand will also been  at Hampton Court Flower Show.  At each of these events there will be an ongoing demonstration of carving in progress.  Each trade stand will show a collection of oak benches, sundials, standing stones and garden carvings.

Pieces can be bought at the show and commissions taken.

Among Martin’s passions in life are music, art and poetry.  He recently produced a Portland stone standing stone that reflected all three.  He wrote a poem which included all the great song titles from his youth and carved it into a huge piece of Portland stone.  Click on this post to see the enlargement of the original drawing of the poem ready to be transcribed onto the Portland stone.  Also see photographs of the finished striking standing stone.  A fantastic piece for anyone with a love of music from the 70′s.  This beautiful hand carved piece is for sale.  Price on application.

Martin is currently working on a cumbrian green slate panel of standing stones for little missenden churchyard.

You can see martin beautiful hand drawn design for the piece.

The tree of life and the verse are all hand carved in the traditional way with hammer and chisel.