Working large (Peter Randall-Page)

Back in what was surely the good old days when television had lots more arts programmes, I happened to see a sculptor doing some preparatory drawings.

He pinned a huge sheet of paper to the wall -- floor to ceiling -- and set to work, covering it with charcoal. It was my introduction to the work of Peter Randall-Page, who liberates intestinal shapes from stone and also uses seed-pods and other organic forms as starting points. Here for instance are some of his walnut drawings - each is over a metre high - We found some of his work on exhibition at Kew Gardens a few years ago.
And while in Devon we visited his studio during an open-studio event.

Than, last week, hurrying to a meeting, I passed by a lumpy thing on the pavement - one of his sculptures, outside BUPA House just off Bloomsbury Way - "Beneath the skin" (in the background is his "Chain of events") -

And later this month his recent drawings will be on show in London (31 March to 24 April).

One day I'll get a huge sheet of paper and pin it to the wall and get out the charcoal. Meanwhile, in class it's great to be working at A1 size.