Studio40
A working studio, classroom, and gallery at the heart of Dartington.
Welcome to Studio 40, run by Artist tutor and curator Maria Moorhouse. The space serves as a dynamic classroom, gallery and artist studio, nestled within the stunning Dartington Hall Estate.
Join Maria for her engaging stone carving courses, explore the seasonal gallery exhibitions showcasing the incredible talents of local artists, or simply come and be inspired by art in a beautiful setting!
"Studio40 is a hidden gem of creative craftsmanship at the heart of the Dartington Estate"
I am Maria Moorhouse, and I run Studio40 as part of my creative practice as an artist. I continue to develop my career which I have nurtured for over three decades. My artist practice has always been driven by my passion for stone.
Stone Sculpture gives me a connection and grounding to the earth. It holds history in its formation and tells the story of metamorphic moments in time.The act of carving stone with hand tools and practicing mindful solitude is healing for the soul and has strong spiritual connections to being part of something much bigger than me.
My sculpture themes come from a spontaneous and direct method of carving called intuitive expression. I find when I overthink an idea something gets lost which blocks my progress to feel my way around the stone.I am very connected to my feminine energy, so my sculptures are based on this.
I am interested in sacred landmarks on the landscape and folklore which inspires my thought patterns when carving.l like to use the elements water as metaphors in my mark making and the my attention is focused based on the changing seasons and cycles of life.
Studio
Portfolio
"Learning to carve stone has been a life changing experience for me"
Celtic Dragon Relief Carving
Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th March 10-3
A fun Weekend workshop to try your hand at hand carving a Celtic Dragon in reielf from natural Limestone. Using a set design you will practice the skills of stone carving.All the tools and materials provided .
Course fee £180 10 hr course over two days.
Limestone Carving 6 Week Course
13th January- 17th February 2026
Every Tuesday, 2-4 pm
A 6 week afternoon course for beginners to stone carving limestone.
The course will introduce you to the tools techniques and methods to shaping stone into sculptual forms. Bring an idea you would like to carve and I will teach you how to achieve it.
Course Fee £180 plus a fee for the stone you select.
Tools and materials supplied
Clay Sculpture course
block 1 13th April- 18th May No session 4th May bank holiday 10-1
Join my engaging clay sculpture short courses, held in two blocks of 5 sessions over a 10 week course. You can choose to do both blocks or one block.
Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your skills, the friendly environment will inspire your creativity. Unleash your artistic potential and create stunning sculptures while connecting with fellow art enthusiasts. Sign up today and start your sculpting journey!
Course Fee per block - £155 plus £14 for a bag of stonware clay
Limestone 8 week Sculpture Course
10-1
The 8 week weekday limestone course is for those looking to refine your skills, Your tution will be within a group setting, with one to one teaching from me to guide you through the process of carving your sculpture.Our friendly environment will inspire your creativity. It is a great way to connecting with fellow art enthusiasts.
A choice of either Tuesday or Wednesday morings Only.
Course Fee-£260 plus the cost of a piece of stone which will vary depending on the stone you choose to carve.
Non refundable if cancelled 2 weeks before the course starts.
Please fill out the content form to book
If the course is full you can be added to the waiting list for another term
Soapstone Workshop
saturday 19th &Sunday 20th September 10-3
Whether you're a beginner or have some experience, I will guide you through the art of shaping stone into beautiful works of art. Discover the joy of working with your hands and leave with your own unique creation.over two days.
Course Fee £ 180 payable by bank transfer
please completed the contact form to book
Upcoming Courses
Welcome to Sculptworks! Join a 10-week stone sculpture course, short beginners course or a weekend workshop where you can explore your creativity and develop your skills in a supportive environment.
I run three terms a year, for the week day 10 week courses providing ample opportunities to learn from my expertise to create stunning pieces of art. Sign up today and embark on your sculpting journey!
Classroom
Student Gallery
"I can’t imagine a life now without carving stone and feel forever grateful to Maria for her encouragement belief"
Studio 40 is also a pop up gallery. It offers a fresh light space for local artists around Devon. My aim with the gallery is to support artists in any stage of their careers to showcase their talent.
Studio 40 is situated on the beautiful Dartington Hall Estate, legendary for the arts. Studio 40 gallery is available as short Friday-Sunday bookings July, August and November annually. Enquire for available pop up bookings.
Previous Exhibitions include Tessa Blights large abstract paintings inspired by Dartmoor; multidisciplinary artist Thom Blane's solo show "Sketchbook", exploring sculpture, painting and graphic art; and Alison Hannah & Julia Toy's "After Japan" exhibition of Japanese inspired pottery. In September, Melina Clark Jeweller " 9 shells of Tara al Ghar "handcrafted and cast Jewelry.
In November, Catlin Pharoah, Photographer showed her
" Hidden Figures of the South West" collection highlighting crafts people from the South West. To end the year on 6th & 7th December 2025, Karina Eibatova showed her beautiful paintings and prints titled " Hope in Light and Colours".
Gallery
