23rd June

This solo show at Cheeseburn combines all aspects of my practice: drawing, sculpture, film, photography and public art. Landscape is a clear theme which runs though the exhibition and in particular my ceaseless investigation with rock as a material and conceptual tool to explore the human condition. I am particularly pleased to be exhibiting for the first time, my day-long shadow drawings, pictured above. These have been made by continued drawing between sunrise and sunset. Other drawings and sculpture offer different ways to view this inanimate material and questions its interconnectedness with human kind. My large screened film Genesis will be viewing continuously, offering an immersive experience of landscape.

Themes of perception, duality, reflection and presence are continued in two large scale sculptures outdoors, in the beautiful grounds of Cheeseburn Grange.

As part of this exhibition I am displaying a working model and large scale images of my planned local sculpture Ascendant: The Elizabeth Landmark. The objective is to produce a contemporary landmark and cultural destination at Cold Law on the Ray Estate, which benefits the local community and economy, celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s services to the country and her life-long dedication to the Commonwealth. The success of the sculpture will grow from a sensitivity to land and place: born in form, material and presence from the majestic geography that supports it.

This exhibit explores how my public commissions are interconnected with my studio practice through materials and concepts, how I work across different mediums and scales to investigate our relationship to the planet we live upon.

I will be giving a talk about my work on the weekend of 6/7th July.

29th & 30th June, 6th & 7th July
11am - 4pm
Cheeseburn
Newcastle upon Tyne
Northumberland
NE18 0PT
cheeseburn.com
info@cheeseburn.com

24th January

Today, after months of in-depth research, calculations and drawings, the Elizabeth Landmark, a.k.a. Ascendant, planning application was submitted. It feels like a milestone, because there have been a wonderful team of dedicated consultants working flat out on such subjects as archaeology, ecology, landscape, topography, transport, engineering etc. all pulling together to make a water-tight planning application.

Its been a joy to work with them all, particularly the landscape architects Southern Green who have made beautiful drawings from my hand drawn sketches, and working with a 3D model and topographical survey, in order to give a better understanding of how the sculpture will finally sit within the beautiful landscape of Northumberland.

Below, one such wire frame drawing which animates a landscape photograph, and location map. One of dozens of drawings.

29th August

I am thrilled to announce that I have won a major public sculpture commission to be sited in the raw beauty of Northumberland. This 55 metre contemporary sculpture celebrates Queen Elizabeth II's service to country and her life-long dedication to The Commonwealth.

The Elizabeth Landmark will become a new cultural destination on the Ray Estate and in the north of England, benefiting the local community and economy by being a catalyst for regeneration.

Made from Corten weathering steel, this elevated slice of hillside has been inspired by the rugged and undulating landscape in which it sits. The elegant and robustly engineered aerodynamic form references the rich history of local iron ore and stone mining. Lateral fins which change in pitch and frequency as they rise up the sculpture accentuate the sense of perspective and movement, creating contrasting shadows along its 85 metre length.

Directly shaped by the topography of the hill, the delicately arched form would completely disappear if placed back into the hill beneath. The carved space left in the hillside below, which has given rise to the positive sculpture above, forms a canyon-like rock slot. To walk this from end to end will be to experience the geology of the local landscape: a walk through Deep Time itself.

The specific topography of Cold Law hill in Northumberland has directly informed not just the sculpture and the rock slot, but also the circumnavigating system of paths, which allow ever changing perspectives of the sculpture whilst walking around it. Like a reverse giant gnomon of a sundial, the sculpture points directly to the sun at its zenith on Midsummer’s day.

"To have the opportunity to design a landmark sculpture to be placed in this raw and beautiful landscape is undoubtedly a privilege and a challenge that I wholeheartedly relish. The success of the sculpture will grow from a sensitivity to land and place: born in form, material and presence from the majestic geography that supports it."

30th April

Today was a good day, installing two sculptures: sun on my back, lifting tackle, rock, sculpture, machines, and helpful assistants. There's a job to be done, everything is thought through and it runs like clockwork, almost like a choreographed performance (well, perhaps thats pushing it a little). Whilst it is physically pretty hard and mentally taxing, thinking about every eventuality, it actually seems like a day off. I guess thats the wonder of working out of doors!

So now these two favourites pieces belong to the Northumbrian landscape, at Cheeseburn Grange. CG is a beautiful set of buildings set within stunning gardens which have the feel of a large country house, yet the scale and intimacy of a personal project. There is a fantastic variety of sculpture to be found, from large well crafted statements, to small and gentle interventions. Open for selected weekends over the summer - see below.

Cheeseburn Grange
Stamfordham
Northumberland
NE18 0PT
info@cheeseburn.com
cheeseburn.com

Open weekends:
May 19th/20th
May 26th/27th/28th
June 30th/July 1st
July 7th/8th
August 25th/26th/27th
September 1st/2nd

20th April
After months of hard work I finally have this publication in my hands - and it feels good, really good.

10 Public Sculptures showcases my work dotted around the country in a beautiful designed book. Its layout is clear and descriptive with powerful images of my sculptures within the public realm. It has a super introduction by Anne Elliott and an brilliant contextualising essay by Tom Flynn in the centre. There is all the usual information about what, how, when, where etc. alongside a visual story line of two of the sculptures.

Very much celebrating my larger public work, which complements my studio based practice and gallery explorations, I had a pretty clear idea what I wished the book to do commercially. So it was a joy and an education to work with the design company Antman who held my hand through the subtle process of design layout, choice of stock, image selection and text, all of which achieves the design brief whether you give it a quick three second flick through, or a longer in-depth read. There's something gorgeous about its rubberised covers which make you want to keep hold of it.

To view a high res. pdf of the book click this link...
(please be patient with download as file is 83MB)

10 Public Sculptures - Hitchens.pdf

24th November 2015:
Yesterday I managed take some images of the sculpture The Space Between, which I installed in May. Sited in Reading, just along the road from the mainline rail station and opposite Forbury Park, it is the welcoming landmark sculpture at the entrance to Forbury Place: a striking new office space delivered by M&G Real Estate. After installing the sculpture on a wet day in May, the surrounding groundwork, cabling and surface finishes to the public realm had to be completed which is why I waited until yesterday to take images of the finished work. For all this time the sculpture has remained wrapped, protected from the possibility of knocks and bumps. Now it is wrapped again, because work is starting on the second building which is due for completion in 2017.

I'm thrilled with the strong visual link between sculpture and building, and am eager to see it again without wrapping, fencing, and with people sitting around it. For the full background story of its making click on the Public Commission tag on this page and scroll through six news posts about the project, or take a look at the public commissions page in this website, or testimonials.