Peter Arkell
I am a sculptor working primarily in marble, alabaster, jasper, and onyx. These stones, with their enduring strength and natural beauty, form the foundation of my practice. I carve in the traditional way, using hammer and chisel, a method I studied through courses in Italy and London. This slow and physical process is central to my work: every strike of the tool is a negotiation between the resistance of the material and the expressive qualities I seek to reveal.
Much of my work focuses on the human figure and its capacity for expression. I am fascinated by how the unique qualities of each stone, its grain, translucency, or weight, can influence the mood and presence of a piece. By choosing materials carefully, I allow their inherent character to guide the final form. Inspirations such as Emily Young, Auguste Rodin, and Henry Moore have shaped my understanding of the figure, yet my own practice is rooted in the dialogue I create with the material itself.
This dialogue is more than technical; it is a relationship. Working with stone is not about mastery but about listening. Stone is millions, even billions, of years old, and when a short-lived human being engages with it, something remarkable happens. Over time I have come to understand this process as a friendship, an apprenticeship in which the stone becomes the teacher. Rather than imposing form as a master to a servant, I approach stone with respect, seeking to become its partner. The process is one of humility and openness, in which beauty arises through collaboration with the material’s own nature.
My heart is at rest when the stone speaks in this way. There is a stillness and a peace in its presence, a dignity that resonates deeply. In shaping stone, I do not only create an object but also give form to a quiet message, an aspiration that with consciousness and care, humanity might find ways to heal and live in harmony with the earth. These works may endure long after I am gone, carrying silent witness to both our capacity for damage and our potential for gentleness.
Alongside stone, I have also worked extensively with porcelain and clay. This medium offers a contrasting delicacy and introduces colour through glazing as an additional dimension. Despite their differences, both stone and porcelain demand a physical engagement that is central to my way of making. Both materials, in their own ways, remind me that the earth is not our servant, but a companion, one that can guide us if we listen.
Exhibiting my work with the Society of Portrait Sculptors and the Chelsea Art Society in London, as well as placing pieces in private collections, has allowed me to share not only the finished forms but also the ideas and processes that underpin them. To me, these exhibitions are an extension of the dialogue with stone, inviting viewers to enter into their own moment of stillness, reflection, and connection.
At its core, my practice is about exploring the expressive potential of form and material, but it is also about respect, humility, and the recognition of something larger than ourselves. Through traditional techniques applied to timeless substances, I aim to create sculptures that carry both physical presence and emotional resonance, works that speak as witnesses to our shared existence with the planet, and as aspirations for the future.
Latest Work
NOSTOS
Marble (30cm x 60cm)
MOTHER FORM
Pink Alabaster (30cm x 45cm)
AURORA
Marble ( 30cm x 40cm)
JOAN OF ARC
Onyx (56cm x 28cm)
JOAN OF ARC
Detail
MARCUS AURELIUS
Italian Alabaster (45cm x 25cm)
PEACE DOVE
Marble (70cm x 15cm)
TORSO AFTER PRAXITELES
Marble (70cm x 17cm)
SUTHERLAND
Marble (20cm x 20cm)
EMERGENCE
Green Stone (48cm x 30cm)
FALLEN HERO
Brown Alabaster (40cm x 20cm)
SLAVE
Black Alabaster (50cm x 40cm)
SEBASTIAN
Onyx (60cm x 30cm)
JUPITER
White Alabaster (40cm x 30cm)
BIRTH
Marble (20cm x 20cm)
JASPER
Jasper (30cm x 20cm)
LAGOTTO
Plaster (50cm x 50cm)
JOKER
Porcelain (30cm x 15cm)
