AN ARTIST is raising money to make his sculptures a permanent feature at a school that looked after his disabled son,

Brian Mander, 64, has created several artworks as part of an installation for Chailey Heritage Foundation.

The sculptures are currently on the site of the old Chailey Marine Hospital at Tide Mills, near Newhaven, he is now looking to move them to the Chailey Heritage School.

Brian's son Hector, 32, is profoundly disabled and has lived with his father since his mother died from cancer in 2006.

Shortly after, having been forced to give up full-time work as a builder, Brian decided to devote his limited time to his own creative output, mainly as a sculptor.

Hector was a pupil at the Chailey Heritage School for three years in the early 90s, which was key to his development.

Brian said: "The school was vital to Hector’s early learning and development, and to the understanding of his limitations and potential.

"We owe a lot to the fantastic input the school provided and still provide for children with complex physical and neurological disabilities."

Brian, from Brighton, first volunteered to create the exhibition as part of the LYT Production Tidemills Project for Lewes Artwave Festival in September 2021.

The Argus: Brian Mander

The sculptures are in part an acknowledgement and celebration of the pioneering work of Dame Grace Kimmins, founder of Chailey Marine Hospital and latterly the school.

Brian added: "The remote beach location was all but inaccessible for most disabled people, which is why I want to take it to Chailey Heritage so that staff, parents and pupils can view and enjoy the sculptures in an accessible and safe environment."

He was invited by Helen Hewitt, the school's executive director and Fiona Duff the school manager to install them permanently within the grounds.

Brian has applied to the Arts Council for a grant to cover the logistical costs, he has also launched a Go Fund Me page to raise the funds.

He said: "I need to raise £1260 to help with the logistics, transportation and installation of the new sculptures at Chailey Heritage.

"I am working with the estates manager Steve Primrose who will arrange to put down the hard standing required. An Arts Council Grant will allow me to remake the sculptures with site specific considerations.

"They will need to be raised and fixed on solid, stable plinths and I intend to introduce a kinetic, interactive element so that they can be easily rotated."

The Still Stone Voices exhibition will stand "in quiet conversation with each other" in a prominent location at the school.