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Claude A Lester Sculptor | Wildlife photographer

@thebearhouse_btn

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🐻Sculptor, stone carver, metal artist & wildlife photographer
🐻Having fun creating
🐻Lover of bears: cuddly apex predators
Brighton, United Kingdom

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Come and join Brett @brettgbanks & Claude @thebearhouse_btn at @afopenstudios
Try a 3 hour taster sessions or 2 or 3 day workshops carving stone. All stone, tools and tuition provided in the wonderful setting of @blackshedstudios in the heart of Ashdown Forest to celebrate 100 years of Winnie the Pooh
#stonecarving #makeart #sculpture #artistsopenhouses #winniethepooh by @thebearhouse_btn

When I was originally taught to stone carving by Zimbabwean sculptors, they always told me the stone would tell me what it wanted to be. Did I guess right? I think so. #stonecarving #sculpture #shonastonesculpture by @thebearhouse_btn

Here’s what got created on our (@brettgbanks & @thebearhouse_btn) taster sessions and a returning #student (@jena.hat) continuing her #elephant journey as part of @afopenstudios @blackshedstudios loving the #creativity #ashdownforestopenstudios by @thebearhouse_btn

What a great long weekend of #art. Couldn’t agree more with Henry Moore’s comment about sculpture is at it best outside. Views of the #sculptures in the garden as part of @afopenstudios @blackshedstudios #artists @glassophony @brettgbanks @thebearhouse_btn #garybucket #ashdownforestopenstudios by @thebearhouse_btn

Setting up @blackshedstudios (well finishing pieces actually) ready for #afopenstudios this weekend

4/5/6 Sept 2026!
80 artists across 5 trails in Ashdown Forest

#openstudios #sculpture #painting #artistsopenhouses by @thebearhouse_btn

This will be upon us in less than a week, book your places to avoid disappointment. Let @brettgbanks and @thebearhouse_btn lead you to create your own piece of #stonesculpture from novices to more seasoned pros., all welcome. In the stunning setting that is @blackshedstudios as part of @afopenstudios ##ashdownforest #brighton #eastsussex by @thebearhouse_btn

Meet the artists and makers of Studio 12!

Painting, jewellery, ceramics, sculpture and wonderfully imaginative creations from reclaimed materials — Studio 12 brings together nine artists and a whole host of different ways of responding to nature, materials and memories.

SANDY INFIELD
Inspired by her Ashdown Forest surroundings, Sandy uses colour and composition to create distinctive images celebrating nature, from its smallest details to the sweeping landscapes of the Forest and Downs.

#AshdownForestOpenStudios #AshdownForest #meetthesussexartist #openstudios2026 #artforsalesussex

ROXY SEQUEIRA
Roxy creates organic, nature-inspired jewellery in silver and gold, drawing on treasured childhood memories of South Africa to make pieces that evoke a sense of nostalgia, calm and joy.

CLAUDE LESTER
Claude is a multimedia artist, wildlife photographer and sculptor who explores the extraordinary forms of the natural world through photography, stone, metal and repurposed materials.

BRETT BANKS
Brett is a sculptor working primarily in stone and wood, combining traditional carving techniques with intuitive making and an ongoing exploration of materials.

GARY BUCKETT
Drawing on years of working with buildings and their materials, Gary creates sculptural work exploring weight, texture, form and the way an object’s meaning can change through its surroundings and context.

NICKY BAGGE
Working from her tiny Ashdown Forest studio, Nicky hand-builds unique ceramics inspired by the nature surrounding her, decorating each piece with sgraffito, oxides and the occasional quirky twist.

PAGETTE HARRISON
Pagette creates artisan gold and sterling silver jewellery rich in texture and organic form, inspired by the ocean, Sussex woodlands and the beauty of the natural world.

NICK BOWERING
Inspired by childhood memories of model-making, travel and his engineer grandfather, Nick creates imaginative pieces from scrap materials that celebrate ingenuity, nostalgia and making by hand.

BLACK SHED ARTIST GROUP
The Black Shed Artist Group brings together student artists taught by Sandy Infield, who will be exhibiting a selection of their work alongside Studio 12’s other artists and makers. by @thebearhouse_btn

Still spaces available

DM or email thebearhouse@myyahoo.com by @thebearhouse_btn

New sculpture coming, hopefully first of a series... by @thebearhouse_btn

Still places available for half day tester sessions and 2 or 3 day workshops.
Tuition, tools and stone included.
On the Fairwarp Trail of @afopenstudios at @blackshedstudios
#stonecarving #stonecarvingworkshop #artistsopenstudios by @thebearhouse_btn

September will soon be upon us, what are your plans? Why not join @thebearhouse_btn and @brettgbanks as part of @afopenstudios and create your own piece of #stonesculpture in such beautiful surroundings. We have taster sessions and 2 and 3 day #stonecarving #workshops. #ashdownforest #ashdownforestopenstudios by @thebearhouse_btn

by @thebearhouse_btn