Viv has to date completed three Public Commissions. 

LEAVES OF THE FOREST 

A key part of his work has been focused on natural forms. This subject-matter was crystallised as central to his work when, to mark the end of his Chairmanship of the National Forest Company, the Chief Executive arranged for him to be commissioned to produce a work for a new roundabout at Woodville in South Derbyshire.

A two tonne Ancaster block ‘Leaves of the Forest’ was ultimately unveiled in October 2007 having been funded by Tapton Estates and George Wimpey North Midlands.

The sculpture shows 13 different leaves from trees planted as part of the National Forest Tender Schemes and is carved on all four sides as well as on the top of the block.

Sculptor’s mark on Leaves of the Forest.

Ash side of Leaves of the Forest in situ.

Holly side of Leaves of the Forest in Dudley showing carving on top.

Mountain ash side of Leaves of the Forest in situ.

Oak side of Leaves of the Forest in Dudley.

Oak side of Leaves of the Forest in situ.

Bob Tweddle, on behalf of the RAF Boy Entrants Association, commissioned Viv to produce a Monolith at the centre of their Memorial garden (designed by Hazel Astling) at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. This two tonne Ancaster monolith was unveiled in September 2004 with considerable ceremony including a fly-past by an aircraft from RAF Cosford.

The carving is part of the coat of arms of the Boy Entrants, a propeller, on one side with an inscribed tablet inserted on the other side. The garden contains plinths commemorating all the stations where the Boy Entrants trained.

RAF Boy Entrants Monolith.

RAF Boy Entrants Monolith, detail of propeller carving.

RAF Boy Entrants Monolith showing the station memorial plinths.

A third public art commission followed when the Heart of the National Forest Foundation asked Viv to sculpt a work in recognition of the contribution that Susan Bell, the Chief Executive of the National Forest Company, had played in establishing the Foundation and securing funding for the award-winning Conkers Discovery Centre.

A one tonne sculpture in Ancaster stone ‘Fruits of the Forest’ was unveiled in February 2007 by Susan at the invitation of Stephen Woolfe, Chairman of the Foundation. The work illustrates some of the forest fruits found in the National Forest including of course the conker and is a complementary piece to the ‘Leaves of the Forest’.

Bob and Jamie Tweddle, plinth-makers, installing Fruits of the Forest.

Viv working on Fruits of the Forest at Dudley College.

Fruits of the Forest showing the conker carving.

Susan Bell OBE having unveiled Fruits of the Forest with Stephen Woolfe and Viv Astling.

Fruits of the Forest with Conkers Discovery Centre in the background.