Sophie-Elizabeth Thompson brings her ideas to life in a range of materials, including bronze, marble and resin. Exhibited all over the world, particularly in China and Japan, her striking conceptual pieces are, she says, the result of ‘an instinctive process where no thoughts can penetrate the subconscious mind and allows inspiration to flow into form’. Abstract in the purest sense of the word, her work is inspired by both the natural and the man-made; delicate bone forms, industrial architectural structures, fluidity and negative space between objects.
For this exciting project, it was the light and shadow on rippling water that provided artistic inspiration. ‘I live by the sea and took photographs of how it rests against the sand. It leaves beautiful, calm, flowing indents,’ she adds.
This was a new type of artistic collaboration; instead of delegating the design to the artist, the design team at Victoria & Albert Baths asked her to conceive sculptural forms that would provide inspiration for a bath, a vessel basin and podium basin. These were brought to life in Quarrycast, a world-class stone composite developed by the company to deliver unrivalled beauty and durability. It’s made from pure, white volcanic limestone that is used for other iconic pieces in the Victoria & Albert collection, including Amiata, Eldon and Ionian.
Look at the history of bathroom design and there’s a tradition of form following function, with the occasional nod to classicism, Art Deco and minimalism. This landmark endeavour for the first time fuses sculptural form with beautifully conceived bathroom furniture to create a truly contemporary classic.
For further information, please visit www.vandabaths.com
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Meet the rare, water-loving Canadian retriever that looks like a fox and surfs like a proDespite their popularity in their native Canada, the Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever is still a rare sight in the UK. Lottie Gross finds out what makes them tick.
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Five outstanding country homes across Britain, as seen in Country LifeAn ancient home in Hertfordshire and an old vicarage in Cornwall are among the houses coming to the market through Country Life this week.
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Star of the show: How George Saumarez Smith's design for Country Life wowed visitors at the Chelsea Flower ShowThe Garden Lover’s Library, created by George Saumarez Smith for Country Life, dazzled visitors at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
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Inspired by the past: How Munder Skiles blended old and new for Country Life's stand at the Chelsea Flower ShowOn Country Life's stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, two striking designs by Munder Skiles demonstrated the exciting possibilities of combining inspiration from the past, artisanal skills, high-quality materials and cutting-edge engineering to create furniture suited to inside and out.
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Reader event: The art of the country house garden at DaylesfordWhat are the ingredients of the perfect country garden in the 21st century? At this Country Life event, five leading experts will share their wisdom on achieving pleasing good looks, creating comfortable spaces for relaxation, manageable maintenance and how to make a garden your own.
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Art underfoot: How Artorius Faber brought to life the stone floor of Country Life's stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower ShowGeorge Saumarez Smith’s design for the floor of Country Life's stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has been brought to life by Artorius Faber.
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The best of British: How home-grown stone will be one of the stars on the Country Life stand at the Chelsea Flower ShowCountry Life's stand at RHS Chelsea will celebrate the beauty of Artorius Faber’s home-grown stone.
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The art of the hand: George Saumarez Smith's design for Country Life at ChelseaGeorge Saumarez Smith will demonstrate the power of pen and pencil when Country Life unveils his hand-drawn design for its stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
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Reader event report: An eye to the future at DaylesfordThe magnificent Heritage Barn at Daylesford in the Cotswolds was the setting for an event at which five specialists with a deep understanding of country properties shared their expertise.
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Reader Event: An eye to the future at Daylesford Heritage HouseWhat changes to a house do most to enhance its aesthetics, function, comfort, sustainability and longevity? On March 24, leading experts in architecture, interior design, craft and restoration will share the secrets to maximising possibilities and protecting value at Daylesford’s magnificent Heritage House in Gloucestershire.
