A WELLINGTON artist has been shortlisted for an award after creating quirky waste-themed sculptures.

Tom Waugh, 39, has been shortlisted for the Rise Art Prize, a global competition that launched in October 2017. It seeks to unearth the best established and up-and-coming artists and offers a career-defining prize.

The shortlist is announced as satirical painter Harland Miller, fashion photographer, David Bailey CBE, Turner-nominated artist Fiona Banner and renowned British street artist Ben Eine join the global judging panel alongside YBA artist Gavin Turk, twice Turner Prize nominated sculptor Richard Wilson and Sarah Martin, head of Exhibitions at Turner Contemporary and English contemporary artist Antony Micallef.

Somerset County Gazette:

Tom Waugh creating one of his sculptures.

Mr Waugh draws inspiration from every-day waste products.

He said: "One of the projects I completed at college was a drapery study. We were asked to arrange fabric and carve an exact copy of it. I instantly loved the effect that could be achieved and was fascinated by how something so hard and immovable could appear soft and ephemeral.

"I love the random and complex forms that are created when something is crushed, squashed or dented. Mass produced objects become organic and are given life and character."

He used his experience as a stonemason to carve the sculptures to look like items such as a crushed box, a cigarette butt or a plastic bag.

Somerset County Gazette:

Somerset County Gazette:

Two of his creations. 

"This knowledge of the material has informed my use of stones that share characteristics with the objects that I am carving," he added.

"Careful attention to surface texture and detail allow marble, ironstone and Portland stone to become plastic, rusty metal and cardboard.

"These mass-produced objects at the end of their useful life would usually be discarded or go un-noticed but, rendered in stone, they take on new meaning."

Mr Waugh will be among 26 artists vying for the accolade that will be announced tomorrow (February 8).

The Global Artist of the Year will receive a £10,000 cash prize, along with the opportunity to exhibit their work at an international exhibition in Central London, business and financial mentorship from industry experts, a short biopic around their practice, and editorial, marketing and exhibition opportunities through Rise Art.