Amazing Art: The Dynamic Driftwood Horse Sculptures of Heather Jansch
Her understanding of her subject and her perception of the finished work create monumental sculptures that are awe inspiring.
“From the beginning my twin passions were drawing and horses and my hero was Leonardo da Vinci. I dreamed of becoming an artist living in wooded foothills with clear flowing water at my doorstep and horses grazing all around.” Heather Jansch
The Artist
Born in Essex in 1948 as Heather Sewell, she studied at Goldsmith College in London, but left after the first year.
As a talented artist and still a student, she married the influential acoustic guitarist Bert Jansch, a founder member of the folk-rock group Pentangle, in 1968. Bert was influenced to record the songs “Miss Heather Rosemary Sewell” and “M’Lady Nancy” for her. Heather did the artwork for his 1971 album “Rosemary Lane”
When Pentangle split up in 1973, Bert and Heather moved to a farm near Lampeter in Wales. Two years later Bert left, to go back to the music industry. (Although they only divorced in 1988.)
In Wales Heather raised Welsh Cobs and continued to develop her painting skills. She describes this period of her life as “her apprenticeship.”
It was here that her love of horses and art jelled together and soon she was painting commissioned works.
In 1980 she moved to Devon, where she now lives. She began painting other subjects and soon her brilliance as a colourist shone through. But her creative side led her to experiment with wire and plaster sculptures of the passion of her life, horses.
It was not until she started to work with driftwood that the dynamism of her skill as a sculptor came out.
The free standing life size horses made entirely out of driftwood weigh up to three-quarters of a ton.
From 1988 she started exhibiting her work to public acclaim in the UK and Europe and became an artist in residence at many venues.
In 1999 she was invited to exhibit alongside other world renowned sculptors for the Millennium celebrations at Canary Wharf in London at the “The Shape of the Century – One Hundred Year of British Sculpture” exhibition.
In 2001 she became Artist in residence at the much acclaimed Eden Project.
Ian Courcoux described her as “one of the most positive people I know and this aspect of her personality, combined with the exciting originality of her work, has led to her becoming involved in important exhibitions and future projects…
“It would have been so easy for Heather to have continued to produce one beautiful driftwood piece after another…. why change a winning formula? However, that is not her nature and she has recently been working with different materials and styles, in tandem with the driftwood sculptures which are at the heart of her art.” (source)
The Art
To see more go to Heather Jansch’s website
For more articles in the Amazing Art series by C. Jordan
The Amazing Hand Art of Guido Daniele
The Amazing Epic 3D Street Art of Edgar Mueller
Or for articles on sculpture in the landscape by C. Jordan
St. Helens Dream: A Cultural Landmark
A Cultural Landscape: Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Liked it
Wonderful and fascinating article, Chris! Heather Jansch , is a very talented sculptor!
Gorgeous…. you just know I am going to end up bloggin this (am at work having my early morning cuppa at the mo so no time now, but soon!).
RJ
A lovely, well researched article, CJ.
I saw a TV programme, last week I think, with a profile of Heather and her works. What an imagination that lady has.
I didn’t realise that she was married to Bert Jansch. That would make a good pub quiz question down at the ‘Aging Hippie’! lol
Interesting. I will search my Pentagle albums 
Great pieces of sculptures.
Wonderful!
Yes, I too saw the feature about her on Countryfile a week last sunday! Impressive artform indeed. Great article too.
Superb pics and a very interesting article indeed! You really have a talent for finding great artists.
Me again, I find these horses really fabulous. I can see a link with Salvador Dali’s horses. I guess this artist certainly studied anatomy. She certainly spent some time on each horse. I’d like to know how all this is assembled. Another article maybe…
Thanks a lot for sharing this C!
I love horses, and am an artist myself… if only I lived near the sea I would make one too! (well okay probably not, I prefer painting/drawing)
great link
My cats would love these as scratching posts!
seriously though they are well crafted.
Fantastic!..thats really amaze me..Great post!..LOV that horses..fab article and well presented..must read..well done and thanx for sharing this wonderful stuff
This artwork is FANTASTIC. Really great piece.
WOW! Is all I can say.
Excellent article about an amazing artist. I only wish I could ’see’ what I draw like this. The shape and form is astounding.
Fantastic article Chris. They really are beautiful.
Wow CJ this is an awesome article with some stunning art, they look so real and ready to gallop away. Beautiful!
Interesting piece and great pics. Amazing art!
Thanks,
Clay
That’s awesome. I’ve seen wooden sculpture, but this is a new twist for me. Great article and pictures.
These are incredible C. The first is a bit eery.
Great pieces of art.
Wonderful article. Amazing art.
What an absolutely fantastic artist! These horses almost feel ‘alive’ to the observer! Thank you for such a wonderful article about such a gifted artist!
Stunning art, fascinating article and pictures.
Blogged @ Webphemera! Thanks!
These are quite amazing! It is quite a manipulation of the wood to get those shapes.Fantastic article, as always, thanks.
fantastic
Awe inspiring indeed.
Stunning art x great article
I love sculpture art. I hope you don’t mind, but I added this one to my Chris Stonecipher and Friends blog. http://www.christonecipher-friends.blogspot.com
Not at all ,thanks Chris.
how nice…very artistic and unique… he’s so talented!
i really like it”"”"”" creat another one for me’,
can i be your work partner???????
