Will Whitmore is a highly motivated, skilled and traditionally trained craftsman. He is a sculptor and stonemason and has been involved in the architectural restoration of many Heritage and National Trust buildings throughout the UK. He has studied and exhibited internationally and his sculptures are in a number of private collections.
Will is self employed and works on site and from his workshop in Somerset.
Key Skills
Over 20 years craft based experience
Wide experience working in stone, marble, clay/ceramic and plaster
Figurative sculpture in the classical tradition
Portraiture and realistic figurative sculpture
Site work- fixing/installing, Restoration and Conservation
Casting and mould making - silicone, waste and piece moulds
Stone and ceramic sculpture restoration and cleaning
Survey and stonework condition assessment
Lifting and handling of large sculptures and objects
Experienced in organising and coordinating projects
Knowledge of working with lime
Own equipment, workshop, tools and van
Full driving licence
CIS registered
CSCS qualified Banker Mason and Architectural Carver
Education
2016-2017: Figurative sculpture and drawing at Barcelona Academy of Art, Barcelona, Spain.
2004-2005: Postgraduate diploma in Stone Sculpture. Cyprus College of Art, Lempa, Cyprus.
2001-2003: CITB Construction Award Level 3. Banker masonry and Architectural Carving. Bath Spa College.
1997-2000: BA (hons) Visual Art Specializing in Stone Sculpture. NENE University, Northampton.
1996-1997: GNVQ Foundation in Fine Art. Stroud Art College, Stroud.
Employment
March 2016-Present: Coade Ltd.
Restoration to a pair of incredible winged Coade thrones later sold at Masterpiece.
Restoration of Coade candelabrum originally designed for the Prince Regent. at Carlton House.
Design and sculpting of a 7m Achievement and acanthus decoration to the facade of a private residence.
Sculpting a copy of the William Kent Urn at Anglesey Abbey, cast in bronze for private client.
Conservation of the large Mote Park Lion, Ireland.
Modelling and finishing a set of over life size four seasons.
Sculpting and designing a pair of classical heads for a Caryatid fireplace.
Modelling and carving work on various original figurative sculpture projects in ceramic and marble.
Conservation to Roman figures at Wilton House.
Dec-March: Paul Spencer Fine Chimney Pieces.
Carving of oak leaf panels in marble and other decorative marble elements for several fine fire surrounds.
Oct 2015: Skillingtons Workshop Ltd.
Structural stonework and carved cills to Shute house.
Sept 2015: Cliveden Conservation.
Restoration, lifting and refitting of 8 large stone urns on rooftop of National Trust property Hinton Ampner House.
Feb-Aug 2015: Luke Grafton Stonemasonry.
Various Carving, Lettering, Masonry, Restoration and fitting works around Somerset.
Dec 2014: Cliveden Conservation.
Masonry, fitting and restoration to gothic folly, Wimpole House.
Oct 2014: Private job.
Carving decorative acanthus corbels, moulding and casting in reconstituted stone. London
Aug 2014: Wolff Stone ltd.
Carving 3 large corinthian capitals and other decorative elements in portland.
July 2014: Cliveden Conservation.
Carved indents and restoration to C15 font in Bletsoe parish church.
June 2014. Paddington County Council.
Carving several oak and beech seats now located in Paddington Recreational Ground, London.
May 2014: Cliveden Conservation.
Laying interior stone flooring, 4 rooms, Thurloe Square, London.
April 2014: Coade Stone.
Carving urn finial for Dunfries House, Scotland.
Jan 2014: Carving assistant to sculptor Hilary Koob-Sassen.
Assisting on several carved and assembled large scale sculptures in marble and steel.
Dec 2013. Pierra Restoration.
Carving and fitting of various tracery sections to large main window of St Swithuns Church.
Nov 2013. Carvero.
Carving of marble elements for self-supporting "flying" staircase.
Oct 2013. Priest Restoration.
Carving of decorative bird in flight panel for Kensington Palace Gardens.
Sept 2013. Cliveden Conservation.
Survey and condition report of stonework on facade of National Trust property Waddesden Manor.
Aug 2013. Cliveden Conservation.
Carving and installation of new portland entrance portico to Victorian Shell Grotto in the grounds of Pitshill House.
July 2013. Cliveden Conservation.
Restoration and repairs to Edwin Lutyens memorials commemorating the site of the signing of the Magna Carta. 18ft Piers had been hit by a vehicle, causing extensive damage to inscription and mouldings. Carved new inscription to match original font and indented large sections before conservation cleaning and rebuilding the pier with assistance of a crane.
May 2013. Cliveden Conservation.
Restoration to the tomb of poet Thomas Grey at St Giles Church, Stoke Porges.
April 2013. Cliveden Conservation.
Installation of public art sculptural fountain in Whitechapel, London.
March 2013. Priest Restoration.
Carving classical Ionic Capitals and decorative features for a new portico to Kensington Palace Gardens.
Dec 2012. Pierra Restoration.
Suplied original carvings of various decorative and floral architectural details which were then moulded and cast in terra-cotta for repairs to a building in Mount St, London.
Nov 2012. Pierra Restoration.
Design and carving of a grotesque for the C12 St Mary Magdalene Church in Stockbury, Kent.
Oct 2012. Carvero.
Carving large Corinthian Capital which had suffered from extensive weather damage in the portico of a hotel in Oxford.
Sept 2012. Cliveden Conservation.
Design and carving of a gothic style Gargoyle for St Mary's Church, Harrow on the Hill.
July 2012. Cliveden Conservation.
Restoration work to two historically significant tombs in Chiswick Parish Church. Tombs were in danger of collapsing and needed to be dismantled, cleaned, repaired and reinstated.
May 2012. Cliveden Conservation.
Carving and restoration work to various historic garden features in Chiswick House.
April 2012. Cliveden Conservation.
Restoration and structural repairs to tower and finials of Windsor Parish Church. Involved cleaning, carving, fixing new stonework, pointing and installation of mechanical reinforcement.
Jan 2012. Priest Restoration
Decorative carving and restoration work to historic Victorian Bourdett-Coutts fountain. Carving of new marble limbs and features for four large scale putti which had been damaged by vandalism.
Sept 2011. Cliveden Conservation.
Restoration to Cafe Royal Grill Room after fire damage.
June 2011. Public art lettering commission.
Carving of 8 large scale limestone boulders with poetry written by local school children from Maesteg Comprehensive, South Wales. Working for sculptor Adam Williamson and commissioned by Sustrans and Bridgend County Council.
Feb 2011. Cliveden Conservation.
Carving floral and swagged urns for a new arts centre at Southill Park, Bracknell. Carved in Bath stone to replace damaged originals. Also supplied and fitted various capstones and other pieces of masonry.
April 2010. Stowe School for Cliveden Conservation.
Restoration of the Western Pavilion on the front façade of this C17 stately home. Working on a self employed basis this included carving and replacement of the huge Corinthian and Ionic Capitals and also general masonry and replacement of floral decorative details
March 2009- March 2010. Travel and Residencies.
12 months spent travelling and working throughout India, South East Asia, New Zealand and South America. Worked with local stone carvers in Cambodia and India and was artist in residence carving a sculpture for the permanent collection in Waitakarura Sculpture park, New Zealand.
June 2007- March 2009. Westminster Abbey for Clivedon Conservation.
Supervising restoration work to a section of the great cloisters in Westminster abbey. This involved sympathetic cleaning and rebuilding of 11th century walling, carving new tracery and conservation, reinforcement and rebuilding of gothic arches.
Jan 2007. Surbiton Clock Tower. Cliveden Conservation.
Restoring a listed clock tower in Surbiton. The work included cleaning the entire tower, mortar repairs and replacement of carved masonry. Will was responsible for a small team of conservators and stonemasons, organization of schedule, supplying materials and liaising with architect and client. The restored Tower was opened by HRH Prince Andrew.
Feb 2007. Leeds Castle for Massey Masonry.
Carried out repairs and restoration to stonework on C13 Leeds Castle in Kent. Included pointing, cutting out decayed stonework, templating and fixing new carved stonework, ashlar and capping.
Nov 2006- Feb 2007. St Pancras Station for Stonewest.
Working on the final stages of the restoration of the interior of St Pancras. Included banker work, decorative carving, cutting out or repairing existing damaged stonework, templating, fixing prepared stonework, installing doorway and window arches.
July 2006- Nov 2006. Acquisitions of Camden, London.
Fabrication of period marble fire surrounds. This included floral carving, accurate construction of surrounds from slabbed marble and limestone, sawing, grinder work and quality control.
July 2005- June 2006. Bruton Stonemasons, Shute Lane, Somerset.
At Bruton Stonemasons Will worked in all aspects of masonry including banker masonry, lettering, architectural carving, restoration and repair work of sculpture. He was also involved with interior and exterior fixing, laying stone flooring, mold making, setting out and drawings for jobs.
Oct 2004- July 2005. Postgraduate Diploma. Cyprus college of Art.
Spent 9 months living in Cyprus whilst studying on a postgraduate fine art course. During this time learnt how to work self sufficiently with limited tools and equipment, producing abstract sculptures in various local stones. A number of these were sold in galleries or exhibitions Will organised or participated in during his stay.
Sept 2001-Oct 2004. Stoneworks of Bath, Bath Spa.
Completed a two-year apprenticeship whilst studying stonemasonry at Bath Spa college. During this time at l learnt traditional techniques used in the making, fitting and restoration of marble and limestone fire surrounds as well as banker work in a variety of limestones and sandstones. Also gained experience with floral relief carvings, egg and dart moldings etc. Became proficient in the use of grinding and pneumatic equipment and also sawing, profiling and milling of stone with a flatbed saw.
Sept 1997- June 2000. Visual Art degree, Northampton University.
Graduated with a BA (hons) in visual art after specializing in 3D and stone sculpture.
References are available upon request.
Exhibitions and Competitions.
Jan 2014: Competed with UK team at International Snow Carving Competition, Breckenridge, Colorado, USA.
Jun 2013: Competed at Bristol Festival of Stone carving competition.
Jan 2013: Competed with UK team at International Snow Carving Competition, Breckenridge, Colorado, USA.
Mar 2010: Rotating show at Art Elements Gallery, LLanberis.
Sept 2009: Artist in residence at Waitakarura Sculpture Park, New Zealand.
Aug 2009: Working with Cambodian Master Carvers, Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Aug 2008: Group show at Liquid Studios with Hackney Wick Arts Festival.
Aug 2008: Studio show in association with Hackney Wick Arts Festival.
Feb 2008: Charity exhibition at the Café Royal Hotel, London.
Feb 2007: “The Day Before Tomorrow” Collaborative show, Hackney Wick, London.
June 2006-Oct 2006: Three month outdoor exhibition in association with Underground Art and Design at the Sir John Hillier Gardens, Hampshire.
June 2006: Hackwood Festival of Art. Participation in group show and organisation of stone carving workshop and demonstration.
June 2005: Group exhibition with Cypriot artists. Gallery Kypriaki Gonia, Larnaka, Cyprus.
May 2005: Postgraduate Exhibition. Cyprus College of Art (CCA) Gallery.
March 2005: “Fragments” Solo Exhibition. CCA Gallery.
Feb 2005: “Unclaimed Luggage”. In association with Artrageous Group. Circulo de Belles Arts, Madrid, Spain.
Feb 2005: “Nine Point Zero”. Group Exhibition in aid of Tsunami victims. Em Plo Gallery, Paphos, Cyprus.
Feb 2005: “Duality”. At The House of Art and Literature. Paphos, Cyprus.
Dec 2004: Group Exhibition. CCA Gallery, Cyprus.
Nov2004: Joint Autumn Exhibition. The Burnside Gallery, Isle of Arran, Scotland.
April 2004: Solo Show. The Burnside Gallery, Isle of Arran, Scotland.
Nov 2003: “Five” Joint Exhibition. Walcot Chapel, Bath, UK.
June 2000:Degree show. NENE University, Northampton, UK.
May 1997: Mural Workshop and Exhibition. Roxborough House Arts Centre, Stroud, UK.