Sharon Rich
Sharon has had a love of art and creativity since a young age. With her Cornish origins, a strong Celtic essence is reflected in much of her work together with her love of animals and nature. Working mainly in limestone and soapstone, each original piece of work is hand-carved using a traditional mallet and chisel. This is a primal and physical process with the finished result having ‘soul’ and emanating a sense of calm.
“I love the 3D challenge of working in stone. It’s not just nice to look at, It’s so tactile. Try running your hands over it and feel the textures. Stone is such a timeless and spiritual medium.” In addition to stone carving, Sharon has introduced stained glass into her work to combine the beauty of stone and glass together.
Sharon has taken part in Oxfordshire Artweeks for the past 12 years and many local exhibitions including the National Trusts Avebury Manor in Wiltshire and Newark Park in Gloucestershire. In 2017 and 2018 she won the Swire Ridgeway Arts Prize for Sculpture. So far her work has proved popular, and she continues to develop as a sculptor and glass artist.