Introduction It is a strong curiosity for the lost-wax process of casting bronze that has kept me working in the foundry and driven me to experiment prolifically. An approach of tr ial and error has led me to explore old and new techniques, while all the time testing the limits of what intricate forms the molten bronze can be persuaded to create. My work aims to blur the boundaries between sculpture and the decorative arts that utilise craftsmanship in multiple materials, often combined in one ornate piece. My goal in the foundry has also been to str ive for finer, thinner, more delicate forms, and the structural for m of flowers, plants and leaves have recently become the main focus of my attention. Drawn to the intrinsic fragility of flora, in addition to its beauty and transience, there is an abundant array of diverse forms to challenge me: as with Easter Lily (page 28) or Fuchsia Baller ina (page 34).. Each plant passes through many stages and so has many guises, each according to their own season, flourishing, fruiting, seeding, dying and resur recting.
With so much choice, my method has been a delicate balance of selection and serendipity. Some plants have caught my attention as I pass them everyday in the street: like the aromatic Elderflower (page 20) and the attractive Buddleja (page 22) that grow abundantly, yet are often lost or overlooked in the urban environment of our busy day-to-day lives. Wouldn’t it be nice to celebrate them and shine a light on all their usefulness to mankind over our history?