George Gunn

My interest in all things stone arose from a childhood exploring old quarries and castles.

I was trained in 1983 and in 1997 I passed all the exacting tests to become a DSWA Master Craftsman Drystone Waller, followed up in 2000 by gaining my Basic Instructor Certificate then Advanced Instructor Certification , then qualified as a DSWA Certification Scheme Examiner.

I have been fortunate to have worked for the UHI lecturing on Conservation Masonry and on Broch repairs and assessment with Archaeology Companies and Historic Scotland . I have collaborated with artists and worked on community projects and training in the USA, Europe and Australia. My keen interest in passing on skills means that I continue to run courses every year.

A chance encounter in 2005 led to me working on the design and then building three large drystone projects for Ormlie Community Association during their revamping of the estate. My efforts were recognised by achieving second place in an Environmental and Heritage Award Scheme.

This spurred me on to diversify more into artistic design using traditional stonework heritage skills and the start of my Northstone Stonefest Festival in 2016. The UK’s only Drystone Festival. Many of the stone seats and features around Thurso are either my own work, my Caithness Arts projects or Northstone’s.

For the exhibition I will be producing two sculptures plus a stone piece relating to another local ancient stone craft .

Thanks again to Sidh C Art – I can’t wait to see all the exhibits!