Simon Keeley, a stone carver from Croydon, Surrey, was commissioned to produce Portland limestone relief carvings for a clinic in London’s famous Harley Street.

Simon trained as a stonemason at York College and worked for Bowman & Sons in Stamford, Lincolnshire. He learnt carving at the City & Guilds Art School and took an MA course in Art in Architecture at the University of East London. He now teaches as well as accepting commissions.

He explains about the Harley Street work: “I was asked by Art Projects Ltd to produce a series of designs using healing plants. These were to be carved in low relief and set into an historic façade. After months of research and frequent visits to the Physic Garden at Chelsea, I composed a design with an appropriate classical style for the age of the building.

“The doctors in the clinic chose seven of the plant designs and I selected many more and rearranged the array of plants around a series of strategically placed volutes.

“Having received approval from Westminster Councils' planning department I began.

“I modelled the arrangement in clay and produced a hard reference guide in architectural jesmonite.

“The carving has been challenging but extremely rewarding. Meticulous modelling has helped develop an understanding of the forms before and during carving in the glorious Jordans Basebed Portland limestone from Albion Stone.The carved panels were installed by stone and conservation specialists PAYE.”