Soldier and Nurse Busts
In line with a long tradition of supporting young stonemasons, the Incorporation has commissioned two busts to be made to commemorate the end of the First World War and some women receiving the vote for the first time in 1918.
Alistair Denovan is the stonemason and sculptor who received the latest commission and he has completed two marvellous busts in white marble. Alistair has worked on the two busts at the City of Glasgow College premises in Cathedral Street, Glasgow where he studied as part of his apprenticeship.
Alistair Denovan graduated from Edinburgh Art College in 2009 with a degree in sculpture. After working in the Scottish Highlands for a few years he relocated to Ayrshire and began a Stonemasonry apprenticeship with the National Trust of Scotland in 2013. During his time there he began teaching himself stone carving in the evenings and through support from Glasgow's City College and the Incorporation of Masons of Glasgow, he began his first commissioned piece. Growing up in Orkney Alistair’s family nurtured in him a passion for restoration which he now does on self-employed basis and completes stone carvings on a commission basis.
Anyone wishing to contact Alistair with a view of having a sculpture created, please contact him at: a[email protected]
In line with a long tradition of supporting young stonemasons, the Incorporation has commissioned two busts to be made to commemorate the end of the First World War and some women receiving the vote for the first time in 1918.
Alistair Denovan is the stonemason and sculptor who received the latest commission and he has completed two marvellous busts in white marble. Alistair has worked on the two busts at the City of Glasgow College premises in Cathedral Street, Glasgow where he studied as part of his apprenticeship.
Alistair Denovan graduated from Edinburgh Art College in 2009 with a degree in sculpture. After working in the Scottish Highlands for a few years he relocated to Ayrshire and began a Stonemasonry apprenticeship with the National Trust of Scotland in 2013. During his time there he began teaching himself stone carving in the evenings and through support from Glasgow's City College and the Incorporation of Masons of Glasgow, he began his first commissioned piece. Growing up in Orkney Alistair’s family nurtured in him a passion for restoration which he now does on self-employed basis and completes stone carvings on a commission basis.
Anyone wishing to contact Alistair with a view of having a sculpture created, please contact him at: a[email protected]
The two characters chosen for the busts were William Sclater who was born in 1889 at Ettrick Place, Glasgow and Ann Stone Guest who was from Stoke-on-Trent. They met when Quarter Master Sergeant William Sclater of the 9th Highland Light Infantry was a patient in Leicester’s Military Hospital after receiving a wound to his cheek caused by shrapnel on 13th December 1916. They married in 1918.
Prior to his wound, William had spent six months at the battle of the Somme, being one of only three of his Company who survived.
Prior to the war, William had been a pupil at Glasgow High School and on recovering from his injuries, William was unable to return to the trenches and was sent to Redford Barracks in Edinburgh. He was demobbed in Hamilton on the 8th July 1919 and returned to his previous employer. William became an Officer in the Boys Brigade in Glasgow.
Ann Stone Guest joined the Territorial Force in July 1910, signing her name as Annie Guest. Prior to the war Ann worked as a private nurse in Paris and Nice but with the outbreak of war she was called up and was posted to a casualty clearing station.
During the Second World War, Ann worked in the burns unit at Leeds and died in 1968.
The following images illustrates the development of the sculpturing process and the completed busts:
Prior to his wound, William had spent six months at the battle of the Somme, being one of only three of his Company who survived.
Prior to the war, William had been a pupil at Glasgow High School and on recovering from his injuries, William was unable to return to the trenches and was sent to Redford Barracks in Edinburgh. He was demobbed in Hamilton on the 8th July 1919 and returned to his previous employer. William became an Officer in the Boys Brigade in Glasgow.
Ann Stone Guest joined the Territorial Force in July 1910, signing her name as Annie Guest. Prior to the war Ann worked as a private nurse in Paris and Nice but with the outbreak of war she was called up and was posted to a casualty clearing station.
During the Second World War, Ann worked in the burns unit at Leeds and died in 1968.
The following images illustrates the development of the sculpturing process and the completed busts:
