SWINDON sculptor Pat Elmore will be one of more than 50 artists opening up their studios this autumn to take part in the eighth Swindon Open Studios event.

On the weekends of September 5 and 6 and September 12 and 13, Pat’s work will be on display at Nutford Lodge Sculpture Garden, in Longcot, one of more than 39 locations across the town where art will be on display.

Inspired by the work of Renaissance sculptor Michelangelo, Pat works in wood and stone, carving a variety of different objects.

She said: “I work in stone of all kinds, wood with interesting grain, and also clay, which I sculpt rather than mode. Anything is carvable.

“I obtain stone from quarries and catalogues, wood is mostly given to me.

“I carve images which pop into my head, probably from remembered scenes and objects. Geometric shapes, athletic figures, horses, sheep, any animals really.

“Most of the work is either fairly figurative, segueing into semi-abstract and abstract forms.

“Having worked in a draughting office I like geometric forms too.

“Lately, I have been exploring forms with holes, and my own take on the Möbius strip, which has a continuous edge.

“Some of the work gets cast in bronze in limited editions.”

Pat starts each day working in her garden before getting down to artwork.

“After breakfast I harvest vegetables from the garden, maybe work in the garden for a while,” she said.

“Most days I am busy creating work.

“Carving with a chisel is physically taxing, so I would intersperse spells of carving with sanding and other tasks.

“I work in an outbuilding when I do larger pieces, even out in the garden.

“Sometimes I work in the specially created conservatory workshop, which was created using stone from an original fireplace and chimney on the west side of the house, but which was falling into disrepair.

“It has lovely light, and is ideal for working in inclement weather.”

Pat’s favourite piece of work is The Laughing Cavalier, by Frans Hals, and she recalled first learning to carve as a child.

“My earliest memory creating art was carving figures out of cheese rubbers when I was a child.

“Later in my teens I did wood carving for which I won prizes.

“I was thrown out of school (Dame Alice Harpers) for doing caricatures of the teachers, so I did not continue on to O-level stage.

“Nowadays I would probably be commended for my caricatures.”