Zak Stevens is a sculptor in Somerset working in marble, carving the human figure by hand from a single block. His latest piece, Are You Looking Up, is in Bruton, Somerset, and is available at £8,000. It can be seen by arrangement.
Sculpture in Bruton
Are You Looking Up is in Bruton, a small town in Somerset. The work is white marble with gold kintsugi: a tall female form, with a small companion figure at the back of the plinth looking up at her. She has a body but no head or arms. He has a head and arms but no body. They complete each other.
Figure, companion and carved marble plinth are offered as a single work for £8,000, and dimensions are available on request. Seeing the piece in person is the best way to judge its scale and the quality of the stone, and Zak is happy to arrange a viewing.
Training and practice
Zak trained under the sculptor Paul Vanstone and has worked alongside him at intervals since. Learning to carve under an experienced sculptor is a long apprenticeship in reading stone: how a block will behave, where it is likely to open, and how much can be taken away. He now produces a body of work of his own.
His subject is the human figure. He makes abstracted figures, often without head or limbs, in which stance and proportion carry the work. Each is carved by hand from a single block. Nothing is cast or moulded, and no cut can be taken back.
The workshop
Zak carves in an open-sided timber workshop beneath a clear roof, with a chain hoist for lifting stone and grinders on the wall. The block is drilled, the form is drawn on in pencil and cut with the grinder, then worked with abrasives of increasing fineness until the surface is smooth to the touch.
Working in the open air means the stone is seen in daylight throughout, which matters for marble. The way light falls across a surface shows every change of plane, and daylight is how the finished work will usually be seen.
No two blocks are alike. The colour and veining of each stone carry through into the finished work, and the natural openings in the marble are finished in gold and left visible.
Finding a sculptor in Somerset
There are sculptors working across Somerset in many materials, from stone and bronze to wood and metal. If you are looking for a sculptor in Somerset, whether to buy a finished piece or discuss a commission, a few steps help. Being local makes the most useful one easy: you can see the work in person, in daylight, and judge its scale for yourself.
- See the work in person where you can, rather than only in photographs
- Ask whether pieces are carved, modelled or cast
- Ask what is available now as well as what could be made
- Deal with the sculptor directly, so you can ask about the process
- Ask about delivery and installation early, since stone is heavy
Works and availability
Are You Looking Up is available at £8,000. Earlier works shown on the site, A Little Higher and Head in the Clouds, are no longer available. A small number of commissions are also undertaken.
To enquire about a piece, its price or a viewing, write to Zak at hello@zakstevens.art or call +44 7498 566111.
Questions
Where can Are You Looking Up be viewed?
The piece is in Bruton, Somerset, and can be viewed by arrangement. Write to Zak at hello@zakstevens.art to arrange a time.
Who did Zak Stevens train with?
Zak trained under the sculptor Paul Vanstone and has worked alongside him at intervals since.
Does Zak Stevens take commissions?
Yes, a small number, alongside his own work. It helps to know where the piece will stand, its approximate scale and the stone you have in mind.
How do I contact a sculptor in Somerset?
Most sculptors can be reached directly by email or phone. Zak Stevens can be contacted at hello@zakstevens.art or on +44 7498 566111. It helps to say whether you are asking about Are You Looking Up, a viewing or a commission.