Sculptor and Painter
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Rachel is a professional sculptor and member of the RBSA, having studied fine art at Bournville and Norwich Schools of Art, with over twenty years experience in her chosen discipline. Based in Kington, at Studio 54 Gallery, where visitors who would like to see work in progress are welcome and where some of her paintings and drawings can also be seen.
Animal subjects feature prominently in her work, with themes influenced by folk tales, other literature and impressions which have lasted since childhood. Horses, dogs, animal and human/animal hybrids are well represented in her work. |
The media Rachel uses to produce her three dimensional work are many and varied: metals, ceramics, resins, wool, feathers and paper and include painted surfaces. This provides a suitable foundation for surface decoration similar to fine lime-plaster as used in fresco secco. Rachel was a wall-paintings conservator before sculpting took over.
Most of her paintings are currently of mixed media on gesso panels.
Commissions are invited occasionally - please consult the artist.
Most of her paintings are currently of mixed media on gesso panels.
Commissions are invited occasionally - please consult the artist.
Fly: the Walking Dog of Kington
A brief history of Fly
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Colourful local stories involving hounds go back to The Red Book of Hergest and the Mabinogion, probably further, and these are the ancestors of Fly.
The Cwn Annwn, with the shining white coats and red ears, hunted with the king on the underworld (or fairyland). These were huge and fearsome creatures whose howls and growls were said to be loudest at a distance, growing quieter as the stealthily approached their quarry. To hear or see them was a portent of death as with many black dog legends throughout the ages and is one of the guises adopted by the spectre of Black Vaughan. |
Fly - in progress...
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The Vaughans were local gentry based at Hergest Court when the legendary incumbent was captured and beheaded in the wars of the 1460s. His ghost took various forms to torment and frighten the neighbourhood, variously as a fly, a bull, a dog and a man, until twelve priests were able to carry out an exorcism in St Mary’s church. The result of this was that his spirit was reduced to the size of a fly and imprisoned in a snuffbox then buried under a large rock at the bottom of a lake. Reference to this strand of the story is made on the sculpture of Fly in the snuffbox talisman on his collar.
Vaughan also had a hound with a room of his own at Hergest Court and his ghost, in the form of a large black dog, is also said to roam, the sight of him being a portent of doom. These legends were told to Conan Doyle when he came to stay at the Court. He will certainly have known of the local Baskerville family of Clyro Court and when he wrote The Hound of the Baskervilles it was originally based in Herefordshire, but he was persuaded to change the location to Cornwall.
These stories continue to excite and inspire and provided a foundation for the sculpture, but the tale continues and in Fly: the Walking Dog of Kington, the dark connotations are left behind. In this incarnation he has the bright and enthusiastic nature of a dog enjoying his walk, with the contour lines of his form reflecting the landscape of this region. Walkers may be glad of the company should they encounter such a spirit hound on their travels. If I was ever a bit lost or unnerved when out walking in the hills or woods (which has been known to happen!) the spirit of Fly would be most welcome.
Vaughan also had a hound with a room of his own at Hergest Court and his ghost, in the form of a large black dog, is also said to roam, the sight of him being a portent of doom. These legends were told to Conan Doyle when he came to stay at the Court. He will certainly have known of the local Baskerville family of Clyro Court and when he wrote The Hound of the Baskervilles it was originally based in Herefordshire, but he was persuaded to change the location to Cornwall.
These stories continue to excite and inspire and provided a foundation for the sculpture, but the tale continues and in Fly: the Walking Dog of Kington, the dark connotations are left behind. In this incarnation he has the bright and enthusiastic nature of a dog enjoying his walk, with the contour lines of his form reflecting the landscape of this region. Walkers may be glad of the company should they encounter such a spirit hound on their travels. If I was ever a bit lost or unnerved when out walking in the hills or woods (which has been known to happen!) the spirit of Fly would be most welcome.