I am a professional sculptor working mainly in green wood - combining my own studio practice with exhibiting, teaching carving, community and public art projects and residencies here and abroad.

Although I have worked in other materials I am always drawn back to wood believing it to be such a magical, potent, living material. All my wood has fallen naturally, and I love that sense of giving it another life. Each piece has its own history and as I strip-off the bark there is a sense of releasing its spirit.

I begin my project by doing many loose working drawings: I then transfer these in chalk onto my solid block of work, where I begin the very physical process of carving, hacking, slashing as I go to battle with my materials! I ‘block out’ initially with bow saw or chain saw and then define the form using chisel and mallet, finally finishing with rasps and scrapers. For me, Constantin Brancusi’s statement says it all:

‘The artist should know how to dig out the being that is within matter …and be the tool that brings out its cosmic essence…’

My work has become more figurative over the years, initially after a year studying in Cyprus where I became fascinated by ancient Cypriot figures.

I have always had an absolute need to carve, quickly learning that it is essential to my well-being, since my carving is a way of working out and expressing my innermost fantasies, feelings and dreams about this complex and confusing world.

When I am carving I feel a connecting of the conscious and unconscious and this propels me into another state of mind. I have always had a deep fear of death and carving my sculptures is, perhaps, an attempt to evoke a form of immortality. Certainly the very physical presence of my sculptures means they become part of my family.

Biography

Natasha Houseago, born in Bristol in 1966, is predominantly an abstract figurative sculptor in wood, a direct Carver.

Natasha gained a distinction at Jacob Kramer Art College, Leeds, in 1985. A fine Art BA [Hons] degree at Brighton College of Art, 1986-88. Also a Post Graduate Diploma in Cyprus in 2000.

Houseago has over thirty years experience of teaching woodcarving, exhibiting, commissioned Art Projects and Residencies here and abroad.

Natasha has won a award for Artists working in wood and has been sponsored by many tool companies.

Natasha’s home and outdoor Studio are based in Gloucestershire.

After being awarded an Arts Council Grant to develop her creative practice, Natasha spent two years at Rococo Gardens, Painswick, carving exclusively with Ash from die-back disease.

During this period Natasha learnt about the unique characteristics of Ash whilst developing her scorching and textural carving skills.

Natasha has continued working on Commissions, Projects and Residencies developing these new skills, whilst always working outside in an environmentally sound way.