DANNY Clahane is a marvel with stone, creating powerful images of movement and human expressions.

Stunning stuff, and in my opinion the modest Kendal-based sculptor is just a chisel's width away from the bigtime.

I'm not alone in my assessment, as Lancashire property developer and collector Gerald Hitman proved, by arriving at Danny's exhibition in the Warehouse Gallery of Kendal's Brewery Arts Centre, determined to buy the lot.

Gerald was foiled somewhat and only bought nine of the 12 sculptures on show, as three sold on preview night.

But his canny spending spree netted Danny almost £10,000.

He rates Danny as one of the very best stone carvers of his generation and already owns some of his work.

He told me: "His work is technically of the highest standard, but, more importantly, it has a taut energy that is unique to him.

His work immediately stands out from that of other sculptures."

The nine stone creations are bound for the 14-acre grounds of the Old Zoo, a contemporary country house Gerald Hitman has built at Brockhall Village, near Clitheroe, and will sit alongside other pieces commissioned by the art-loving developer from the likes of Joanne Mallin-Davies, Sophie Dickens, Antonio Lopez-Reche and more.

Expressions of Humanity runs at the Warehouse Gallery until September 30.

For further details call 01539-725133.

For the full article, see this week's Gazette,