More about Mike Chaikin's move to Cornwall

For various complicated reasons including a curiosity to know secrets about how things work and a desire for speedy independence I became a Hospital Doctor. I was sure that I would love being a doctor.

A germinating desire for creativity eventually guided me to Richmond adult education sculpture classes where the tutor there recognized my facility with clay and suggested doing a sculpture degree.
Sculpture at that time had become the most important thing in my life. I fell in love with making.
I completed enough medical training to become a GP and immediately ran off to join Eastbourne art college and then Falmouth School of art to complete a degree in 1990.
I moved back to Brighton and became a full time sculptor with a part time job as a GP to keep the mortgage paid. The sculpture was taking off and I began to have shows in London and Brighton but in 1997 my studio was sold off to property developers.
Out of desperation I looked further afield and found a large old water mill in Cornwall that was not far from The Art College I studied at in Falmouth.
In September 1999 I sadly bade a fond farewell to Brighton and moved to Penryn, Cornwall

After several years I found that Cornwall welcomed me with open arms. The Mill was huge and comfortable and had an amazing sculpture workshop. I have not practiced medicine since august 1999.
I find that I love living in Cornwall
I have also worked for a local voluntary group as chairperson of Penryn Community Development Trust. And we have built a much
needed children’s nursery in Penryn

Michael and family moved to a farm with outbuildings near moushole in 2007 and continue to make moving sculptures and commissions in my workshop on the farm

Michael Chaikin. June 2011

>SCULPTURES>