The night Akin went global - thanks to the inspiring words (and Instagram following) of sculptor Jo Sweeting…

This month’s Akin event proved that not being able to meet face-to-face can (sometimes) be a bonus – for Akin event fans on the other side of the world!

We had an inkling that our May event, an ‘in studio’ discussion with the sculptor, stone carver, and printmaker Jo Sweeting, from her Brighton studio, which has been featured in national and international magazines, would be popular.

We were right…

Sort of…

It was unbelievably popular.

This was the most well-attended Akin event since our launch in 2018!

Creatives from around the globe flocked to hear Jo Sweeting talk about her unique approach to nature, her love of the British Isles and her belief that you can walk the same path every day and always see something new.

"I am a three-mile radius person," explained Jo, "I spend most of my time close to home. And Sussex continues to inspire me.”

The items Jo finds and creates from her local travels inspire a world of creatives who share her journey on Instagram and often send her magical natural 'treasures' from around the world that Jo can use in her work.

As well as her projects with the National Trust and Pallant House in Chichester, Jo works on private commissions. She also focuses her unique eye for natural beauty on personal projects that sometimes start with an Instagram idea.

One such project, ‘The Foundle', began when Jo happened upon a rock on her daily walk. The Sussex word for anything found on a hillside is a 'foundle’. So began a project during which Jo carved Sussex words into the stone.

Are you ready to learn a new word? Wait for it… ‘Lookering’. This means going into a field to check on your livestock. Now you know.

People contributed words for Jo to carve, and on one occasion, when she found herself nearly at the stone without her carving tool, a walking friend lent her a scarf to bind her hand so that Jo could chip out a word with a found flint.

Sussex words rang out throughout the world during our Akin zoom event. As the attendees arrived in the virtual waiting room, we heard a hello from:

Virginia, USA

Ireland

California, USA

Sydney, Australia

And… Emma – down the road

We also had one attendee who joined on her London to Brighton train commute.

And we all enjoyed the pleasure of Jo talking about her inspirations.

"Words have always been essential for my work," Jo explains. "When you are a letter carver, you're always looking out for things to carve."

"When I was training, I filled 60 sketchbooks – with words. Because for me, the visual comes after that. I gather words; I hoard them, then I create with them.”

Jo is that rare creative who creates what she lives, lives what she creates – and makes a commercial success of her work.

Her approach to nature (and life in general) can inspire us all.

My favourite Jo quote from the night (and there were many belters from which to choose) was: “When you hold a pebble in your hand, don’t you just think this is really young sand?”

It's a new way to look at pebbles and nature - and maybe life….

To find out more about Jo's work, you can follow her on Instagram - @thestonecarver

Or visit www.josweetingsculpture.com.