Nico Johnson

Carving

Nico Johnson was a senior newspaper editor when she attended a stone carving festival a decade ago and discovered she had a natural talent for carving. She was taken under the wing of several well known stone masons, who helped her develop and hone her skill until she was recognised in her own right as a proficient relief stone carver.

Nico has a love of rediscovering and reviving ancient art, including designs depicted in murals, friezes, pottery and repeating patterns from around the world. Many of her own carvings depict faithful recreations in stone of almost-lost original designs, symbols and signs.

Having visited Egypt many times, exploring archeological ruins and researching traditional methods of decorative art, Nico spent time in the Qasr al-Aguz region on Luxor’s west bank, gaining an understanding of methods of alabaster extraction and block coring in the carving factories which continue to follow ancient Egyptian masonry techniques. Nico later trained as a relief carving tutor, before joining us here at Burngate.

Having now retired from her position as an editor, Nico brings her infectious passion for teaching carving to Burngate, offering enjoyable, supportive and fun classes. When she is not teaching at Burngate, she works to commission, based at her remote ‘carving shack’ out in the forests of north Purbeck.

Nico teaches regularly at Burngate, and this year will be teaching some of our Have a Go Stonecarving and Introduction to Stonecarving courses.