Gilding in my sculpture is not as in letter carving, a rich and lasting colouring of letters, but rather a form of reverence and celebration. I use gold leaf on the exposed and untouched surfaces that originate from often violent events, such as one rock smashing against another. The point of contact can often be seen where a large flake is broken away from the stone or the stone broken in two entirely. These events in a stone’s journey are celebrated as a moment in time, and a major event in the shaping and forming of these erratics.

I used gold leaf as a letter cutter as gold does not oxidise or deteriorate as quickly as paint.It was seen as a long lasting material that also came from a tradition of show and ceremony. Divinity was depicted with gilded halos and gold often stood in for sunlight.

This is a celebration of imperfection: the crack and the break form part of the beauty in contrast to the polished perfection.