The qualities of steel are celebrated in this work that sits on the boundary between sculpture and painting. 

The rusting surface of the steel cutouts is tactile and holds its own abstract beauty in the patterns created by this natural process whilst the red background is reminiscent of paint used to protect steel girders in construction. This sculptures feels like it is about tough construction made easy, particularly with it's title, Glide. Rather than these pieces being awkwardly wedged into a frame the glide past each other like lava. 

"Sculpture has its own language, and I aim to tell a story like a poem or a song but without words."

At the age of 18 Nick Moran got a job at a steel works factory in Australia and here he learnt the craft of forming steel. This combined with a childhood fascination with tinkering an his grandfather's worksop led to a career as a successful sculptor working predominantly in steel.

The artist later opened his own forge in London after an apprenticeship where he was able to complete commercial work and expand his sculptural practice.

Nick travels widely to gain inspiration for his sculptures, he sites antiquity, sculptural icons and shrines as part of his library of references and starting points. Recently, a visit to Iceland led to a series of sculptures inspired by the coastal communities and the fishing boats in the harbours around the country. The initial idea became an abstract memory.

"Artistically, I have always been attracted to the hard-edge California paintings of the 60s and the work of steel sculptor David Smith. It is that type of industrial history within the methods of construction I find particularly appealing."

Accolades

Blacksmithing, Hereford College of Art. 

Awards: Winner of Outstanding Craftsmanship by The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths. 

The 2012 London Olympics U.S swimmer Michael Phelps was awarded a sculpture presented by FINA created by Nick Moran to celebrate him becoming the greatest Olympic athlete of all time. Nick has also completed commissions for The Arctic cruise ship Norwegian Bliss and Duplo International for a sculpture that was later shown in Tate Modern.

Nick Moran is also including Kaleidoscope in The Christmas Auction.