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Outdoor Mosaic Art

~ 2 min read

Design to last for lifetimes

By Maggy Howarth Studios

Design is everything

At Maggy Howarth Studios, it’s essential that our design team becomes familiar with any space - its colours, textures and materials - taking the time to understand the specific resonances a place holds. This process can’t be rushed. It’s the vital context in which to dream up the perfect idea.

Exploring a brief

Following a call or site visit, our designers, led by George Howarth, create a number of pencil sketches exploring themes from the design brief.

Shape & Flow

A scaled drawing is created from the chosen design, showing the different colours, shape and flow lines of pebbles to be used.

The finer detail

The final design is then transferred to the computer and carefully broken into the individual sections to be created in the workshop.

In the workshop

With full size patterns reversed and printed, artists work upside down, placing pebbles face down into sand. The final appearance is only revealed once the mosaic section has been cast and turned out.

Search for perfection

Artists must search for the perfect shape and size of pebble to create the pattern. Approximately 80% of the pebbles are rejected.

Pebble placement

As each pebble is placed, artists surround it with sand to a depth of 8mm using a thin brush.

Made to last

When ready, specialised grout is poured before a final layer of concrete creating an incredibly durable finish, fit to last in the ground for centuries. Once set, the moulds are removed, the jigsaw-like sections turned over and the sand brushed and washed away to reveal the final result.

Master of the craft

After curing for up to 28 days, each piece is laid out in the yard to ensure they fit together seamlessly, overseen by Master Craftsman, Mark Currie, who has worked in the art form for over 35 years.

To find out more about outdoor mosaic art by Maggy Howarth Studios or to discuss a new commission, visit their website.