This month I will exhibit at the Hostry, Norwich Cathedral, Norwich. Here are the details of this exhibition.

Angels, Beauty and the Environment - the Influence of Norwich Cathedral on my Work

I am never really sure where my inspiration comes from. Ideas may occur and linger, sometimes for years, without finding shape. They have to be developed and worked at, although this process is often largely subconscious.

So it was with ‘angels’. I’ve tried to work on the idea of angels before, as the notion of flying, thoughtful creatures and human forms with wings has long appealed to me. I’ve even had the odd skirmish with one in clay but the sculptures have never been resolved to my satisfaction.

Arranging to exhibit at the Hostry was the catalyst I needed to have another look at the sculptures of Norwich Cathedral. I found the sculpted angels and people depicted on the roof bosses to be the most attractive and warmed to the simplicity of the uncomplicated shapes and their open, innocent and intriguing expressions.

I noted that some had facial features that were drawn on in painted lines. Studying these, I was inspired back in the studio to experiment by 'drawing' features on my clay faces with scored lines. Soon a simple figure and face emerged which seemed to want to say something... It didn’t have wings but the idea that it was an ‘angel’ wouldn’t go away.

The resulting bronze sculpture, 'Eco-Angel', is a bit different from my other work. It's my first standing figure for a long time and it resists being either male or female. Working on it I tried to forget 'my’ faces and concentrate on those tiny features of Mary in the Nativity scene depicted in a roof boss in the Cathedral with her sharp nose, severe but beautiful mouth, and wide eyes delineated in paint. I hope I have kept some of her simplicity.

Another theme that had remained latent in my work for some time was that of global warming. I feel passionately that we are in terrible danger if the human race continues to use up the worlds resources as it does. Whilst the ‘Eco-Angel’ was developing I hadn’t decided how I could express my feelings about global warming.

Our human relationship to trees seemed a starting point. Perhaps working on a tree might help? It was the first time I had developed a 'tree' shape. As ever, it wasn’t really a deliberate or planned form; the 'tree' just developed in its own way, a sort of cross between a flower, a tree and a cactus.

Playing with the tree shape and figure together, I wondered what they could 'do' and ended up with the symbiotic relationship you see in 'Eco-Angel'. Humans and nature need to be mutually supportive. This angel is advising us to change our priorities to prevent further global warming and see how climate change is endangering us all. I hope that comes across.

So 'Eco-Angel' has become the first of a series of angels. Wanting to find out more about this new theme I accepted a place last summer on a tour of Norfolk churches. It was the excellent 'An Appointment with Angels - Norfolk Churches', led by the incredibly well-informed medieval historian, Imogen Corrigan. What I learnt was how many hidden treasures we have in our Norfolk churches and how complex and varied the roles of angels are.

Continuing the angel theme I am currently collaborating with Andrew Schumann for a show in May 2010 at St Margaret’s Church, Norwich, with the Norwich Twenty Group.

For this I have made a small stubby angel with its arms/wings aloft. It will stand in front of Andrew’s exquisitely simple relief of flat, blue, circular forms. 'Quantum Field 4’ (a piece made of painted MDF in oak frame).

In August I plan to show a trio of angels, including Eco-Angel, at Salthouse Church, North Norfolk. The theme of this show is 'Landmark'. These angels will be placed quietly in niches on the wall. One angel is praying, one trying to communicate to us, and one warning of the dangers the Earth faces.

Visit my Events page for exhibitions.

Enquiries to Vanessa Pooley 01603 663775, or please use the form on this page to email Vanessa.