Sharpham inspiration for stone-carver

31st May, 2017
by Julian | 2 Min Read
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A stone-carver has crafted a new art-piece after being inspired by a view up the River Dart from Sharpham.

Anne Henriksen - who supports her art by running Anna's Taxis in Totnes - looked at the view twice-weekly, whilst dropping off volunteer visitors to Sharpham.

"I come down here and I see this view all the time and it inspired me," she said. "I see the bend in the river from the road coming down to Sharpham House." Sharpham is within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, being set in 550 acres alongside the winding River Dart about 3 miles down-river from Totnes.

Anne worked in recycled Portland stone, creating a 12inch tall triangular art-piece for indoors. Said Anne: "The Portland stone is probably an old window-sill and the base is Indian granite, recycled from Jenkins Stone stonemasons' skip in Newton Abbot - they polished it up for me."

The work depicts the sun in the sky above the River Dart at Sharpham on one face and birds and the sun (a recurring motif for Anne) on the other. It took her about 3 months to make. "I used chisels, no machinery was involved!" she said.

She's been stonecarving for about 3 years, but has been a lifelong artist using metalwork, jewellery, textiles and wood. She's a student of the stonecarving course at Dartington.

Anne (pronounced Anna, as she is Swedish), moved to Totnes 26 years ago. "One of my first walks when I arrived here was down the river," she said. "Sometimes when I drop off volunteers at Sharpham I sometimes go for walks here."

The art-piece is for sale. Click here for Anne's contact details

Volunteers help Sharpham - a registered charity - in the gardens and on the Estate every Tuesday and Thursday. Anyone is welcome to apply to be a Sharpham volunteer and learn new skills, get active outdoors and enjoy being part of a sociable group. Click here to find out more.