Article in Vita Magazine

The stone circle is complete

Report by Patrick Palmer - July 25, 2007

As a young boy Gareth Eckley of Talgarth was fascinated by stone - of all shapes and sizes, so much so that when he was 11 his parents bought him a stone polishing and buffing machine. Now he is in demand as one of the world's leading artists in portrait cameos - in stone.

Gareth spent four years studying jewellery making, silversmithing, gemology and art & design at the Medway College of Art in Rochester he spent some years working in north London design and making jewellery before moving to Vancouver where he worked as a goldsmith before gaining a reputation as an engraver of crests, coats of arms and, the subject he enjoyed most of all - animals.

Eventually, the call of home and Wales was too strong and Gareth returned to live near the family farm nestling in the foothills of the Black Mountains and to establish his company, Portraits in Stone. From his rural retreat he is constant electronic contact with his world wide list of clients.

Gareth is one of a very select group of gemstone portrait artists, and I was privileged to see examples of his work. It's obvious great skill, artistry, experience and a very steady hand is needed to create the intricate, accurate and superbly lifelike cameos. Gareth carves the incredibly detailed cameos using semi-precious Brazilian agate which, uniquely, is layered in different colours. He uses the contrasts to create the desired shading in his subjects.

Gareth creates an image on the cameo by delicately carving into layers of coloured semi-precious stone agate and, using the contrast in colours, creates the desired shading for whatever is depicted.

He told Vita: "I love the moment when the portrait comes to life before my eyes. I find it exciting to see the personality of the subject captured in gemstone. I feel that I invest a part of myself in every portrait that I create."

"What I really do enjoy is the collaborative process involved in portraiture. I work closely with my client to ensure that together we create an exceptional gemstone cameo portrait. Many of my previous clients haver gone on to become friends."

Gareth's passion and commitment to his art shine through; he travels to meet his clients whenever possible. Some of them have been collecting his work for over 20 years and have become firm friends. "For a cameo portrait to really work I must really get to know the subject, their nature, their very essence if you like. With this knowledge I feel as though I infuse the portrait carving with their spirit," he added.

"It takes a lot of trust to place an order when you have probably never seen a portrait cameo jewel before. And I am very conscious of how much trust is placed on me to deliver a lifelike portrait of a loved one."

And he is always moved by the response from clients when they first see their cameo portrait. "Often there are deeply emotional responses, tears and many are lost for words," Gareth commented. He remembers his very first commission and when he gave it to the client."There was complete silence for at least a minute and I thought 'Oh Dear she doesn't like it'. But when she finally spoke she said she was totally overwhelmed at the power of the cameo."

Incredibly, not one of Gareth's cameos has been returned by the client.

One of Gareth's latest cameos was presented to HM The Queen during her recent visit to Canada. He was commissioned by a native Indian tribe to make a brooch-like cameo of the famous Indian princess, Pocahontas.

Testimonials from clients show just how much a cameo is appreciated. He even had one from Sir Anthony Hopkins congratulating him, not on a cameo, but on the hand engraving of the silver whip and gun handles used in the filming of Zorro. But most talk of the emotion felt when they first see the cameo: 'Your meticulous work has brought great happiness to us'; 'Our appreciation of your artistry continues to grow'; 'The cameo is absolutely beautiful'.

And I can quite see why, the cameos I was privileged to see had a hugely powerful effect. Despite all the plaudits, Gareth is a remarkably modest man. It's only when he sits down at his bench to work in fine detail on a small piece of semi-precious stone you begin to appreciate exactly how much of himself goes into putting someone's very soul into their image - and a future family heirloom.

Asked about the Queen's gift Gareth added with a smile: " I did hear that she likes it."