---

BIOGRAPHY

Antony Powell carves with the dedication and patience
of a man who loves his work and is satisfied with nothing less than perfection.

After many hours, the finished article bears no resemblance to the original material. Delicate and intricate carving has transformed it; perhaps into a mirror frame of the 18th century style or an inspired piece of original carving.

His commissions have ranged from full-sized horses to miniature ivory work, from architectural stone carving to monumental letter cutting and from figureheads to Tudor roses.

Steeped in the European traditions of craftmanship, he has been carving since he was a boy, when, fascinated by sharp pen knives, he loved to see the shavings curling from the edge and to smell the fresh cut wood as his creations emerged.

Excelling in art and woodworking at school, it was obvious where his future lay. So in 1955 at the age of 15, he commenced his four year apprenticeship in Tudor-style wood carving. Upon completion he had a further year 'improving', in an old country workshop, whilst gaining experience in the additional trades of joinery, cabinet-making and polishing.

Wishing to broaden his skills in a medium other than wood, he moved to London where he was immediately employed as a stone carver in the 100 foot high dome of St. Paul's Cathedral"s north transept, taking part in the completion of a four year restoration program. From there it was on to a firm engaged in carving the massive oak work for the Liverpool Cathedral. Then, followed perhaps the most significant period in Antony's training, he joined the top firm in the world of 18th century restoration.

For two years he studied and enthused in the work of the great masters; Chippendale, Johnson and Adam.In 1963, returning to the South Coast, he started on his own and for five years built up a successful business designing, producing, and restoring works exactly to period for the London Trade.

During this time he developed his knowledge in theaccompanying craft of water-gilding; the 3,000 year old water-based method of applying 23 carat gold leaf in order to obtain the burnished finish so popular in the great periods.

Wonderlust then took him off to Canada and Brockville, Ontario, where two years where spent enjoying the Canadian lifestyle whilst doing much creative and restoration work for the top antique dealers and interior designers in New York.In 1971, for family reasons, he returned to England where he carried out his idea of working in the window of his High Street studio in Shoreham-By-Sea, Sussex.

For the next seven years he could be seen completing commissions for customers at home and abroad.His desire to further study the creative process together with a need to reassess his life's goals took him, in 1978, on a journey of discovery through Europe and North America which brought him back, in 1983, to Eastern Ontario and the beautiful rural setting of Sharbot Lake.

Over the succeeding years, he has attracted many impressive commissions, including an altar piece for Pope John Paul II. Antony was most honoured to present this work in person in 1984 and it now resides in the Vatican, Rome.

With a life-time of professional experience, and between the pressures and schedule of producing commissioned work, Antony is presently concentrating his time on creating wonderful original feature pieces, in the new styles that express his intuitive feeling for the beauty of natures many forms.Currently (for the winter of 2003/04) Antony is travelling, teaching, marketing and executing commissions. He can be reached most effectively through his web site and email.