Abbey Ruins Grotesque

Abbey Ruins is a collection of “ancient” sculpture and architectural fragments that have been inspired by those discovered in and around the ruins of Reading Abbey. Made from saved stone.
tesque is part of the ever growing Abbey Ruins series of “finds”. It is a relief carving which is made from salvaged stone. it mimics the many Mediaeval finds in and around the ruins of what once was the magnificent Reading Abbey.

Inspiration

Reading Abbey was closed by Henry VIII in 1539, and the entire building fell into ruin thereafter. The stones and artefacts were plundered and have been popping up in excavations and peoples’ gardens ever since. My interest in all things mediaeval urges me to produce stone carvings that one could easily believe might be another new “find” from the Abbey. They are all hand carved with the same rough and ready feel that the Museum of Reading’s finds exhibit.
More about Reading Abbey here https://www.readingabbeyquarter.org.uk/history-abbey-quarter