David Nash (British, b.1945) is a sculptor who uses a wide range of wood products and other natural materials to create unique works, which have earned him international acclaim. He attended school in England, first at Brighton College, followed by Kingston College of Art from 1963 to 1967. Nash's postgraduate years were spent at the Chelsea School of Art from 1969 to 1970. He was also elected as a member of the Royal Academy of Arts in London, England, for his excellence in both school and his career.
Nash is most popular for his creations using wood, including sculptures created using live trees. Unlike most sculptors, who typically use chisels to create their works, Nash is famous for his use of chainsaws, blowtorches, and other heavier tools and machinery. The chainsaw allows him to work with large trees to shape and mold them, while the blowtorch allows him to add the blackened effects for which he is known. One of his most famous pieces is called Wooden Boulder, which was made from a large piece of wood that he molded into a spherical shape. Nash carved it in North Wales and then left it. Eventually it weathered, dislodged, and began to roll down the mountainside, after which it was spotted off and on for several decades. The boulder was last seen in 2009, after being reported missing for five years. Another one of Nash’s popular works is Ash Dome, which he created using live ash trees; he planted these trees and then manipulated them to make them grow in a dome shape. The location of the dome is undisclosed to protect it from damage.
Nash is famous for using geometric shapes in his work, as well as more natural lines in his tree sculptures. Many of his works are inspired by architecture, such as the pyramids, as well as by the natural world and environment. His work has been featured in the Abbot Hall Art Gallery in Kendal, England, Gallery Lelong Zürich in Switzerland, Sala de la Diputacion in Spain, and Annely Juda Fine Art in London. In 2010, his work was showcased at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park in England, an outdoor gallery that features sculptures by various artists.