What is your earliest memory of scent?

My earliest strongest memory which I can still smell today was my father’s cologne that he only put on when he was going out with my mother on special occasions. This was a west Indian lime by Crabtree & Evelyn if I remember rightly… and the other thing that seemed to be particular about my father was his soap. In those days we all used imperial leather and coal tar school soap but my father seemed to make a point about the importance of a scent from soap. I can’t remember the exact one he used, I think it was Morny – Sandalwood but I remember him finding it very important!

How does scent and the art of making sculptures intertwine for you?

I think there are certain scents/smells in the studio and foundry that are probably too toxic. The wax we use in the bronze casting process is sweet and somewhat intoxicating when I think about it, but it is a good smell. The smells that are the most repellent and move me away from areas where they purvey are the chemical-based ones and although they are quite good – there is something a bit scary. These resins and heavily infused polymer based substances within the mould making rooms are where these scents are strongest and these are the places I choose not to go. It is interesting that marble which I love carving is odourless but of course it is completely natural and a lot of these natural materials, including the semi-precious stones that I work with have no scent at all. Clay and plaster are also more natural materials, so they have a softer scent, interesting….

Some years ago when we started building our home 30 years ago I got totally obsessed with planting roses – almost to the point of madness and still to this day I am more aware of a rose and the scent of a rose than even its colour, pattern and design. One particular rose, an old rose that I have planted by my studio, by my front door and anywhere I possibly can is called Albertine – I have even planted one where we place our bins in the yard back home. My preferred means of transport is a car that has no roof and again the scent of the English hedgerow and of being outside with the wind of nature carries its unseen gift.

I lose my sense of smell when I am not feeling very well, which is probably more psychological than physical because I think when we are well we are aware and our sense of smell is more open shall we say than at lower points along the way.

 

Your favourite places to visit in London and beyond?

Probably the tea rooms in Fortnum and Mason and to catch a glimpse of their marmalade display. My favourite time of year is in the midst of winter before Spring, where I have a sacred weekend at the end of January when the entire house is overwhelmed with the scent of bubbling cauldrons of marmalade.

What inspires you the most?

 Catching the morning sun at first light, the sound of the morning chorus

What is your favourite scent from our collection?

The candles you make for Christmas…I have already put in my order for ‘Santa Baby’ which burns in our hall entering our house and fills the entrance to our home. The jars sit aside the holy family around the crib.