
Artist's Gallery











Dartmoor, Wildlife & Doodles.
Nick Bennett, known as nickdasculptor in business and on social media, is a Dartmoor-based sculptor renowned for his work in the ceramic medium, occasionally incorporating mixed media when the project calls for it.
Artist in Residence at the Global Warrior Foundation
Nick is honoured to serve as the Artist in Residence for the Global Warrior Foundation. This organisation comprises extreme explorers who collect critical climate change data from some of the most remote and uncharted regions of the planet. Their groundbreaking work is essential to understanding and protecting our fragile environment, and Nick is immensely proud to represent and support their mission through his art.
Dartmoor Inspirations and Passionate Themes
Nick sculpts subjects he cares passionately about, including the ecological state of our fragile world, endangered species, and animals generally abused or misused by humankind. Living in Princetown, within the beautiful Dartmoor National Park, Nick draws inspiration from his surroundings, creating sculptures that depict local animals such as cattle, horses, and sheep. His connection to Dartmoor and its natural beauty is evident in his work, reflecting his deep affection for the area.
Whimsical and Imaginative Creations
In moments of whimsy, Nick indulges in creating what he refers to as "ceramic doodling." These playful sculptures, made purely for his own enjoyment, often take human form and can be grotesque, comic, or infused with pathos, depending on his mood. These include:
Human busts (not from life)
Human figures, often designed to cling to walls
Wall-hanging animal busts
'Heeds' – small gargoyle-like heads beloved by pub landlords and fans of gothic or comic sculpture
Nick affectionately terms these pieces "marmite sculptures" because they tend to evoke strong reactions – people either love them or hate them.
Commission Work and Technique
Nick loves to take on commissions where he can react to a brief. If he feels he can do the customer's vision justice, he will accept the commission and deliver as swiftly as possible within the realm of ceramic sculpture. Working almost exclusively with stoneware clay, Nick appreciates its hardiness and weather resistance. This medium allows him to refine his work meticulously, cutting away and reshaping as necessary until he is completely satisfied.
Studio Life and Production Process
Nick's studio is wonderful in the summer but can become extremely cold in the challenging Dartmoor weather conditions, resulting in a quicker production pace in summer compared to winter. The creation process involves several stages: the initial build, drying, first firing, glazing, and final firing. Each sculpture must be completely dry before the initial firing to prevent it from exploding and potentially damaging other pieces in the kiln. This careful and patient process means that development time varies with the seasons.