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 | |  | | | Contemporary & Historic Masonrystonemasonry nationwide, stone carving nationwide | | | Company | Contemporary & Historic Masonry | | | Contact | Mr Michael Blow | | Address | 9 Sommerville Road
Bristol
Avon
South West
England
BS7 9AD (MAP)
| | Telephone | 0117-944 5200 | | | Fax | 0117-944 5200 | | Email | | | Website | www.michaelblow.co.uk | | | I have been a Stonemason for eight years, having received a comprehensive training in stonemasonry from Gloucester Cathedral.
I have a wide skill base incorporating traditional techniques as well as modern practices in conservation and restoration. I regularly help people use stone in contemporary features and buildings, as well as produce traditional stone carvings.
I had an interest in architecture from quite an early age and have always enjoyed being creative. While completing my A levels at Hills Road Sixth Form College Cambridge I had to write a dissertation on something from an artistic point of view, I chose to study the Shona sculptors from Zimbabwe.
I had been deeply moved by the beauty and power of an exhibition I had been to. During my studies I decided I would like to go to Zimbabwe to work with them. After acheiving an A grade in Art I decided to do a 1 year course in stonemasonry at Bath college to gain the hand tool skills necessary to learn from the sculptors as an artist.
I really enjoyed it and got on well with stonework, and towards the end of my course I visited an old family friend in Gloucester, he introduced me to Pascal Mychalisin the head mason at Gloucester Cathedral who invited me to apply for the apprenticeship. I got the job and spent a very happy 3 years at Gloucester. I was taught from a traditional point of view and was only allowed to use hand tools for the first two years of the apprenticeship. I also gained a great training in and understanding of conservation and preservation of stone, approaching it from a historic point of view. During my time there I travelled to a competition in the South of France and came second the first time and first the second time.
I also spent 5 weeks working with a French stonemason in the Rhone Alps and Northern France completing my first carving!! After finishing my apprenticeship I became self employed and have enjoyed doing a wide range of work including two church tower restoration contracts, one of which I ran as principle contractor dealing directly with the architects and church authority. I have also spent quite a lot of time in France working on the restoration of a 19th century farmhouse.
My Portfolio Includes
- Stone carving
- Features
- Stone masonry
- Restoration & conservation
- Sculptures
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