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Under the guiding hand of his father, Regan Shanks learnt to carve wood and bone, progressing to stone once the family moved next door to Parkside quarry in Oamaru.

As a teenager, Regan spent hours chipping away at blocks of stone in the family's back garden, although his sculpting developed greatly, and was strongly influenced, during his extensive travels thgough Europe and Central America.

Regan's sculpting has taken many forms, and has opened up many opportunities and experiences. Recognition of Regan's work has seen him tutor both primary and secondary school children, as well as undertaking vocational work with the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind. Regan has both organized and participated in a variety of sculpture symposia throughout New Zealand and the United States of America.

Regan's sculptures have been exported around the world, including one major shipment to the Northwest USA, where Regan exhibits in numerous galleries and sculpture parks. Other countries where Regan's works reside include Finland, Brazil, Australia, Hawaii, and the United Kingdom.

Regan's sculpting ability has been in demand in the motion picture industry. Using polystyrene and urethane foams, Regan has created film sets simulating various rock and ice formations. Making moulds has also been a major component of this work.

Regan's sculpting abilities were also utilized in Macau, China for casino theming, and theme-park construction. This involved relief carving of cement figurines and other simulated objects. The experiences, skills, and knowledge Regan has acquired make him a highly skilled sculptor, capable of undertaking a wide range of different projects.

Regan's passion is also in landscape, where he believes landscape and scultpure complement each other through form, light, and texture. This has influenced Regan's move into carving concrete for sculpture, and for landscape features, such as water features, zoo enclosures, and museum exhibits, and his skills are highly sought after for his design capabilities, eye for detail, workmanship, and knowledge.

Where is it from?

Quarried from beneath the rolling green hills of Oamaru, New Zealand since 1862, Oamaru limestone holds a special place in the heart of this young nation.

Traditionally men would once quarry large blocks of the Oamaru Limestone using only great hammers and chisels. Even today despite the quarrying process giving way to huge electric quarrying tools, which are able to remove blocks weighing in at up to two tonne there are select pieces that will find their way back to studios.

And there on the studio floor under the guiding hand of artist, hammer and chisel reveal the art hidden within.

As a construction material it is responsible for some of the most classic examples of architecture to be found in New Zealand. As a medium for sculpture it takes on a life of its own.

W hat is it made out of?

This smooth white "Oamaru stone" is known to geologists as "Totara limestone". It is formed of sand sized bryozoan fragments, with vast numbers of microfossils from shells and sometimes tiny pieces of whale bone and sharks teeth.

How do I care for it?

When limestone is freshly quarried, it is quite moist and should be left for at least two years before working, as the stone hardens over time.

Its creamy appearance can be protected by use of a masonry sealing agent; otherwise stone may be left to calcify and harden, lending the stone a darker appearance.

In general, all outdoor sculptures should be mounted on a plinth of some sort. Cement, steel, tile, rock, and similar materials are recommended, so the sculpture will not draw moisture from the soil.