About the piece:
Veronica works exclusively carving in natural stone because she likes to create unique works of art which possess that wonderful and enticing tactile quality that polished rock has. A self-taught sculptor, she enjoys the challenge of working in a variety of stone and styles, but especially loves the different colours, translucent nature and finishes that are possible with alabasters. Generally keeping the lines of her sculptures clean and simple, stylizing the details, she tries to relay the essence of the subject rather than creating a representation, and endeavours to work with the attributes of the stone wherever possible. Reflecting her lifelong love of the natural world, and our need to conserve it, Veronica’s sculpture is primarily inspired by wildlife and nature, including her figurative subjects. Mostly carving from irregular shaped rock, she often sees an animal or design in the shape and colour of the stone. The polar bear appeared to her in this beautiful, white, alabaster boulder, and was never going to be anything else. The strong, simple shape of polar bears inspired her to create a striking, unique, stylised sculpture. As she began carving it, she decided to leave part of the rock natural to display the unique material and to suggest an association with ice, the fragile balance between the bear and its environment, melting ice, and disappearing ice and bear.

At least 50% of the proceeds from this sale will support the charitable work of David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) and our ground-based conservation partners across Africa and Asia.