Natural Stone Craftsman of the Year
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Andrew J.B. Swinley, Red Leaf Stone, |
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He has spent the past thirty years carving a niche for himself as a creative stone artist, but Andrew Swinley has never fully received the industry recognition his work deserved—until now. Swinley has been named 2016 Craftsman of the Year.
A lifelong artist, Swinley is currently employed as a Carving Foreman at Red Leaf Stone in Abbottsford, British Columbia, Canada. His appreciation for art began at an early age. Swinley remembers: “When I was about 18 months old, I demonstrated quite an unusual talent for drawing. When I was a bit older, maybe 9 or 10, I had an epiphany that I wanted to do sculpture and carve figures.”
Swinley began his career at the age of 20 as an apprentice stone mason at Cathedral Works Organization in Chichester, England, where he focused almost entirely on restoration. He pursued a degree in Figurative Sculpture from The City and Guilds Art School in London, then returned to CWO, where he was mentored by Douglas Garland, one of England’s finest letter cutters. After 20 years working as a self-employed stone carver, Swinley and his wife, Debra, moved to Western Canada for a position with Architectural Stonemasonry, a division of Red Leaf Stone. Swinley was familiar with the company because he had known Shop Manager Tony Rogac since the 1980s, when they both trained in stone masonry at CWO. In a letter nominating Swinley for this award, Rogac wrote: “Andrew is a traditional stonemason and architectural carver; a man passionate in promoting the skills of his craft. His training and experience give him a unique insight into what is possible in stone.
“Andrew’s work portrays an air of confidence as he executes his work efficiently and determinedly, without hesitation. He is a direct carver, proceeding into the block without needing the aid of clay models or maquettes, having already predetermined in his mind’s eye the eventual outcome. Like all good carvers, he is prepared to be adaptable in the process.”
Steffen Waite, President at Red Leaf Stone, feels that Swinley’s experience brings a new dimension to their business.
He commented: “His skill set, leadership skills, and artistic vision separate us from other companies. As we build awareness of Red Leaf Stone and Andrew’s carving skills, we are seeing architects renewing a passion toward classicism.”
One of the projects which showcases Swinley’s talents is The Vermeer, a natural stone-clad multi-resident building in Vancouver, British Columbia which features six hand carvings on the front of the building. The project was given an Award of Merit in the 2016 Pinnacle Awards.
Swinley has been passionate about passing on the knowledge and techniques he accumulated over his extraordinary career. His leadership style reflects that of a modern day sculpture studio, one that balances the growth and mentorship of craftspeople while still maintaining an eye on meeting business objectives. Swinley supervises two other carvers at the shop and runs the drafting department. He is an integral part of the entire operation.
Swinley said: “I like to help young people because I don’t want the trade to die. It is essential that the trade doesn’t die.”
Rogac remarked: “When you are passionate about something, then you want to see excellence. When you have excellence in yourself, you want to see that brought out in others. That’s what Andrew does.”
Swinley is grateful for this award and the opportunities it will bring, saying: “Winning the Craftsman of the Year Award means so much to me, because it was given to me by my peers. It’s gratifying, and I finally got recognition in my field. It means even more to me than shaking the Queen’s hand.”