Nic Acaster Artist

About

About image

Nic Acaster has over 30 years of experience running her own studio in Sussex. Her practice draws from traditional boatbuilding techniques to infuse and ground her sculptural works.

Recent work explores the lengthy journey of acceptance Nic began after her father’s death in 2008. Inspired by his profession as a boat builder Nic bought and decommissioned, RX320 ‘Rosie Haze’, a 30ft clinker-built Hastings fishing boat, to repurpose the elm planking, oak ribs, bronze, steel and copper into art (images opposite).

Combining the materials used, craftmanship and storytelling Nic’s practice considers the way craft transcends material truths to affirm the inherent value of her own and the boats past journeys.

2016-2026 'RX320' has evolved in many different ways, from small sculptural jewellery to exhibitions of seabirds and large scale site specific sculpture. (Some examples are listed below)

  • Farleys House and Gallery 2021-present, ‘Cormorant 360’ and ‘Lookout Cormorant’ https://www.farleyshouseandgallery.co.uk/sculpture-garden
  • 2022-23. Arts Council England DYCP grant. Explore and develop Nic’s casting and mould making skills. Focus - preserve the heritage of traditional boat building and its cultural identity.
  • June 2024 National Open Garden Scheme,’ Three Tall Crows’ Coastguard cottages, Cuckmere Haven, Sussex.
  • Royal Society of Marine Artists Annual Exhibition 2023, Mall Galleries, London. 'Striding Redshank' and 'Searching Redshank'.
  • Visual Arts Open Sculpture Finalist 2020 ‘Rye Oystercatcher’ https://www.visualartopen.com/finalists2020
  • Waveney Valley Sculpture trail in 2018. Site specific 40ft sculpture of a Blue Whale.
  • Southwold Festival. Harbour Beach 2018, Site specific 40ft sculpture of a Blue Whale.
 
 
 





Gallery

  • Robin And Curlew

    Made using 'RX320' fishing boat. Reclaimed elm and oak planking, copper nails.

  • Robin & Cheeky Blackbird

    Made using 'RX320' fishing boat. Reclaimed elm and oak planking, copper nails.

  • Reaching Oystercatcher

    Made using reclaimed RX320 timber. Cut from the elm planking showing a scarf join, original tar and copper nails and roves. Set on a section of the wheel house, sitting in steel bolts.

  • Curlew Seeking

    Made using 'RX320' fishing boat. Reclaimed elm and oak planking, copper nails.

  • Lookout Redshank

    Made using elm planking with the original copper nails and roves. Finished with a wax polish.

  • Redshank Searching

    Made using elm planking with the original copper nails and roves. Finished with a wax polish.

  • Rye Oystercatcher

    Made using black tar soaked elm planking with the original copper nails and roves. Set on a slice of oak from the runners off the boats hull. Finished with a wax polish.

  • Bronze Oystercatcher

    Wooden oystercatcher sand cast using the bronze from RX320's drive shaft. set on a slice of oak runner taken from the boats hull.

  • Resin Oystercatcher

    Original wooden Oystercatcher cast using Resin and silicone mould making techniques

  • 'Bullion' Pendant

    Made using a slice of oak with iron-tannin, cut from a runner off the hull of RX320, held by an original copper nail remoulded into a ring. Hung on a black waxed cord.

  • 'Midway' Pendant

    Made using a slice of oak with iron-tannin, cut from a runner off the hull of RX320, held by an original copper nail remoulded into a loose clasp, measurements, 600mm L, 400mm W, 4mm D. Hung on a black waxed cord.

  • 'Orkney' Pendant

    Made using a slice of oak with iron-tannin, cut from a runner off the hull of RX320, held by an original copper nail remoulded into a loose clasp. Hung on a black waxed cord.

  • RX320's Original copper nails and roves

  • Raw materials

    Oak with iron-tannin

  • Oak with iron-tannin.

  • RX320 Jewellery collection

  • Copper clasp

    Made using RX320 original copper nail remoulded into a loose clasp,

  • RX320 Pendants

  • Lookout Gull

  • Cormorant Resting

  • Blue Ladies

  • Tall Heron

  • Remnant

    RX320 Timber, copper, original paintwork, oil paint and resin.

  • Watching Crows

  • Work Bench Crabs

  • Cormorant 360'

    Farleys House and Sculpture garden

  • Clever Nuthatch

  • Coast Guard Oystercatchers

  • Coast Guard Crows

  • Aviary Chickens

  • Three Owls

    Aviary Garden

  • Orange Off Cuts

  • Resin Gulls and Oystercatchers

Contact

  • Aviary Gallery, Studio 5, Farleys Farm Yard, Muddles Green, Chiddingly, Lewes BN8 6HW, UK