Memorials & Headstones
Memorials are an important aspect of a stone carver’s work, especially one who specialises in carved lettering. I have made many memorials throughout the British Isles including Scotland, Ireland and Wales. I’ve even shipped some across the Atlantic, so anything is possible. A headstone is a symbolic and powerful object, and should be created with this in mind. A bespoke memorial can be a way of celebrating a persons life, personality and passions.
I always work closely with my clients in an attempt to make a gravestone that reflects the individual. My approach is more that of an artist or sculptor, as opposed to the mass produced ‘markers’ made by most monumental masons, who tend to use imported ‘blanks’ in set shapes and sizes. I like to be creative and exploratory rather than offering a set menu.
to make a memorial enquiry click here
“You serve a curious, vital role in your client’s process of grieving. Your compassion is manifested in your work. I’m grateful that Joanna found such an artist to collaborate with.” Patricia, Suffolk.
Bespoke Memorial Headstones
Words, imagery and materials are all elements that can bring a personal touch to a memorial headstone.
Perhaps if the loved one was a keen ornithologist, carpenter, gardener or sportsman, carvings could be used to show a favourite bird, chisel, spade or table-tennis bat (in my case) for example. A unique image can say more than words sometimes.
Maybe walking in the Lake District was a passion, therefore Westmorland slate may seem appropriate, or the stone could be sculpted to look like a milestone or way marker. Someone from Yorkshire may hate the idea of not using York stone. More often than not the tone and colour of the stone can be the deciding factor. The context is very important, placing a piece of Portuguese limestone among the slates in a Welsh churchyard may draw the eye too much.
The wording itself can describe a person or hint at the loved ones interests beliefs, or occupation, a line from a favourite song or poem could feature.
Sometimes a simple sculptural approach may say more than words can for some people, when words cannot adequately convey what is needed.
It is my aim to gauge what is right,
in different situations, for different clients, something traditional, or something a bit funky.
Click here to visit the full MEMORIALS GALLERY
If you would like to sit back with a cuppa and see some examples, here’s a short (13 min) video below which shows a range of my memorial work, some traditional, some more adventurous – mainly slate, limestone and sandstone. You could try and cast this to your TV?
Interested in discussing a headstone commission? Get in touch
“I love it, so altogether it is a great success. David was always very keen to encourage young people who set up in business on their own and he would have really admired you, thank you for helping me through what could have been an unpleasant experience.” Caroline, Norfolk
Sandstone
Slate
Limestone
Standing Stones
Map of my Memorials
This interactive google map shows the exact locations of my memorials. If you click on the pins you’ll see images of the stones and a brief description. The pins are coloured to reflect the materials used. This could be useful when considering commissioning a stone; a chance to visit a gravestone near you, to see the materials and quality of the work up close and see how they weather.
See the full map here on Google with details of each listing
“Very many thanks for the beautiful stone – we’re very happy with it. You interpreted our ideas brilliantly and the finished stone is a special memorial to Max. I’m sure he would like it too. The material itself is also lovely and the way that you’ve polished the stone makes it something to touch as well as look at. My parents – and especially my father who also had bikes – were very pleased with it too. The whole process of designing and commissioning the stone, coming to visit you and choosing it and seeing you last week having just set it have been important in our coming to terms with Max’s death and also being able to do something to remember him.” Jessica, London.
Types of stone for MEMORIALS
SANDSTONE
There are many different sandstones to be found in Britain, and they can be very different in colour and texture. York stone for example is generally a grey-brown colour, Scottish sandstone such as Locharbriggs sandstone or St Bees can have a quite pinky-red hue, whereas Clashach sandstone from Elgin is more golden brown. Caithness sandstone from Wick on the north coast of Scotland, often also referred to as a slate, mudstone or flagstone, is more like a dark slate in appearance, anywhere from black to orangey-grey. Sandstone weathers well as it contains a lot of very hard (sparkly) silica.
Click here to visit the full MEMORIALS GALLERY.
Slate
Slate is a wonderful material for really fine carving as it is very close-grained. Design-wise this makes it good for when there is a lot of lettering on a smaller stone for example. Slate weathers really well as it is practically impervious and weather resistant, which increases the longevity of the memorial. I only use British slates from Cumbria and Wales and always avoid inferior imported slate.
Click here to visit the full MEMORIALS GALLERY.
Limestone
There are many limestones to be found in Britain, and they can be very different in colour and texture as with sandstone. The main limestones I use are Portland stone, Kilkenny Irish limestone, Hornton stone, Purbeck stone and Hopton Wood stone (sometimes Nabresina limestone is used as a Hopton Wood stone replacement as it is similar and Hopton Wood stone can be hard to obtain in large pieces).
Portland stone – probably the softest stone I use – was used for the War Graves often seen in churchyards, it is pale oatmeal in colour. Kilkenny limestone is black when polished, and will fade to a mid grey outside. It is beautiful and full of fossils. Hornton stone is a wonderful earthy greeny-blue colour, quite mottled in texture. Purbeck stone varies a lot with various “marbles” and limestone variants, the best Purbeck stone for memorials in terms of weathering and availability is probably Pond Free stone, it is basically oatmealy/buff coloured.
There are other stones that can be used such as the Lincolnshire limestones, Cotswold stone and Bath stone and they are softer and more suited to bold simple carvings due to weathering.
Click here to visit the full MEMORIALS GALLERY.
Standing Stone memorials
Sometimes it is nice to create a more sculptural memorial, using stone in it’s more natural state. These examples show a variety of materials and some of these were designed after finding ‘the right piece’. The designs are inspired by the qualities of the particular piece of stone.
Click here to visit the full MEMORIALS GALLERY.
“It is tremendous, this work of art will intrigue and inspire so many onlookers who will no doubt say “this man must have been somebody very special” Annie, Inverness.
