Introduction

The majority of my work is done to commission, whether from architects, cathedrals and churches, public art agencies, local authorities or private clients. The medium will depend upon what will be appropriate for a particular piece of work. To date, work has been made in stone; wood; marble; slate; bronze; aluminium; glass; GRP; plaster; stainless steel and wrought iron. Whichever medium is used, my approach is to seek to make something expressly having the character of a wrought thing. Depending upon the specific commission, I try to develop the aesthetic implications of this approach.       
How can the form and physical realisation of a piece of lettering be true to itself as something wrought? How can figurative work, even that required to be illustrative, draw upon the expressive qualities inherent in a given medium, such that the more abstract and material aspects of a piece can be developed? I try to make work that, as far as may suit a particular context and client, may become as it were, incarnated in the means of expression; become in a sense, a concrete thing.
Especially welcome would be further opportunities to work collaboratively with architects on integral text, abstract detail or figuration, for bold contemporary crafted buildings. However, all commissions large and small, public and private, are welcome!



Biography

I have been self-employed as a designer-maker since 1994. Prior to this I worked for twelve and a half years (the latter half of this time as principal assistant) for Dick Reid in York. The move into self-employment came with the desire to design and make contemporary work with the understanding gained of working with traditional material.



Contact details

Work tel: 07970 439162
Website: http://www.axisweb.org/artist/charlesgurrey
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Image Gallery

  • Christ at the Transfiguration

    Title: Christ at the Transfiguration
    Dimensions: 9.5 feet tall
    Media: Clipsham stone
    Description: Central over-door figure for the West Front of Guildford cathedral

  • Alcuin

    Title: Alcuin
    Dimensions: 8 foot high
    Media: Cadeby limestone
    Description: Figure in relief for York Minster Library extension.

  • Drawing Room chimneypiece for Arthington Park

    Title: Drawing Room chimneypiece for Arthington Park
    Media: Limewood and tulipwood

  • Four seasons urn for Arthington Park

    Title: Four seasons urn for Arthington Park
    Media: Woodkirk sandstone

  • Text Roundel

    Title: Text Roundel
    Dimensions: 1.5 metres diameter
    Media: Caithness stone with cast bronze lettering
    Description: Commissioned text from Gillian Clarke, National poet for Wales, worked as raised bronze text for siting at Civic Offices, Vale of Glamorgan council, Barry.

  • Soffit Roundel

    Title: Soffit Roundel
    Dimensions: 1m diameter
    Media: Mahogany
    Description: Portico soffit roundel, Belle Isle, Windermere.

  • Corpus

    Title: Corpus
    Dimensions: 320mm high
    Media: Aluminium
    Description: Pulpit Crucifix,St Olave's Church, York.

  • Crucifix

    Title: Crucifix
    Dimensions: 1.3m high
    Media: Polychromed oak
    Description: Tree of Life Crucufix for Hackney Free School.

  • VC Memorial

    Title: VC Memorial
    Dimensions: 2.6m high
    Media: Caithness stone
    Description: Public memorial for Dunorlan Park, Tunbridge Wells. Text from especially commissioned poem by then Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion.

  • Font

    Title: Font
    Dimensions: 1m high
    Media: Sycamore and bronze
    Description: Nave font; York Minster.

  • Guildford Cathedral figurework

    Title: Guildford Cathedral figurework
    Dimensions: various heights up to 2.8 metres high
    Media: Clipsham limestone
    Description: North and Central bays of Cathedral West front

  • Guildford Cathedral West Front

    Title: Guildford Cathedral West Front
    Dimensions: various heights
    Media: Clipsham limestone
    Description: South bay of West Front of Cathedral.

  • Julian of Norwich

    Title: Julian of Norwich
    Dimensions: 2.4m high
    Media: Clipsham limestone
    Description: Buttress figure for Guildford Cathedral

  • St Bernard of Clairvaux

    Title: St Bernard of Clairvaux
    Dimensions: 2.4m high
    Media: Clipsham limestone
    Description: Buttress figure for Guildford Cathedral

  • In Sun

    Title: In Sun
    Dimensions: 600mm cube
    Media: Moelfre limestone
    Description: Textwork for exhibition at The New Art Centre, Roche Court. Text supplied by the poet, Josephine Dickinson.

  • Heraldic Ledger

    Title: Heraldic Ledger
    Dimensions: 2m long
    Media: Branshaw sandstone
    Description: Ledger memorial for family burial plot at Heslington, York.

  • Choir Screen Figures

    Title: Choir Screen Figures
    Dimensions: 920mm high
    Media: Lepine limestone
    Description: Figures of St Ethelburga and Bishop Eborius for York Minster

  • Paschal Candlestand

    Title: Paschal Candlestand
    Dimensions: 2.1m high
    Media: Oak and wrought iron
    Description: Paschal and advent candlestand for St Peter's, Limpsfield.

  • Nativity Figures

    Title: Nativity Figures
    Dimensions: 500mm high
    Media: Polychromed oak
    Description: Figures for St Mary the Virgin, Nunthorpe in Cleveland, Middlesbrough.

  • Memorial

    Title: Memorial
    Dimensions: 1220mm high
    Media: Branshaw sandstone
    Description: Memorial; Poppleton, York

  • Commemorative Plaque

    Title: Commemorative Plaque
    Dimensions: 1.6m high
    Media: Welsh slate
    Description: St Mary the Virgin, Nunthorpe in Cleveland

  • St Giles

    Title: St Giles
    Dimensions: 1.4m high
    Media: Polychromed oak and fired, painted glass
    Description: St Giles, Matlock

  • Stone Memory

    Title: Stone Memory
    Dimensions: 1.3m high
    Media: Lincoln Silverbed limestone
    Description: Exhibited at West Dean College, Sussex. On permanent show at Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincolnshire.