Shaun Gagg

 

Shaun Gagg: A Sculptor Born of Slate and Yorkshire Stone
Born in 1969 in the mining village of Wombwell near Barnsley, South Yorkshire, Shaun Gagg grew up surrounded by the grit and character of working-class Yorkshire life. From an early age, he was drawn to art, captivated in particular by the surreal world of Salvador Dalí. But it was the landscapes of the nearby Peak District and the materials he encountered as a roofer that would ultimately shape his artistic journey.

Fearless of heights and in possession of a long ladder, Shaun spent his younger years rock climbing and caving — hobbies that mirrored his adventurous spirit. His comfort working at heights led him into roofing, a trade that unexpectedly introduced him to a magical material: slate.

It wasn’t long before slate and sandstone scraps from job sites and skips began piling up in Shaun’s workshop. “Take as much as you want, lad!” roof-tile suppliers would say — music to his ears. He began experimenting, sculpting rough and elegant forms from the discarded stone. His works, raw and instinctive, started to draw comparisons to the likes of Barbara Hepworth — a name Shaun wasn’t even familiar with at the time.

Curious, he explored her work at the nearby Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP), less than ten miles from his home. It was there that he also encountered the monumental works of Henry Moore. In both artists, Shaun found reflections of his own approach: tactile, grounded, and deeply rooted in the landscape and materials of Yorkshire.

Today Shaun enjoys sculpting from materials such as coins, nuts and bolts which he spends hours welding together to create an entirely new form. His work is exhibited in galleries all over the world and held in many private collections.

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