A WEST Malvern sculptor is planning to set up a studio in Malvern after completing a prestigious course.

Caro Sweet, of Ebrington Road, studied at the Frink School of Figurative Sculpture in Staffordshire for two years, and graduated in June.

"It was a specialist course because very few courses in the country concentrate on traditional figurative sculpture.

"We had the opportunity to work from life models twice a week and the benefits of old school training," said Caro.

For her final year of study at the Frink School, Caro was sponsored by the Elmley Foundation, a Herefordshire and Worcestershire arts charity.

The foundation also commissioned a life size-bronze sculpture on behalf of St Michael Hospice. Entitled Emerging Woman it will be placed in the hospice's quiet garden.

Another piece, Walking Girl, won a £100 prize in the Malvern Visual Arts Society's Open Competition on Sunday.

Caro is now working from home putting together a body of work and is searching for bigger premises so she can work on larger pieces.

When she has found a suitable studio space she plans to run workshops and educational open days so people can learn and see how large pieces are made.

"People don't understand what goes on behind the scenes and this will give them a chance to see the whole process," she said.

l Caro Sweet at work on one of her sculptures.