STONE mason Peter Loizou is carving out a name for himself with awards and commissions for his work.

The Bridport craftsman won the annual Boss Carving Competition at Weymouth College title for the second successive year.

His winning piece was a traditional grotesque, complete with contorted limbs, horns and pock marked skin.

Peter followed up his home-grown win with another at the European Stone Festival in Freiburg, Germany.

His wins are the icing on the cake after he put in a successful bid to design the new monument to Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, which will be in pride of place at the Manor roundabout in Weymouth before the Olympics next year.

Mr Loizou, 36, had a place at St Martin’s Fine Art School when he was younger but never took it up. He went into IT but still hankered after making a living with his hands.

He went to adult education classes in London and his tutor just happened to be a graduate of Weymouth College. Within a week Mr Loizou was in Dorset signing up for a course and looking for somewhere to live.

He said: “We talked to the Dorset Art Week people and asked them where to stay and they said Bridport and we fell in love with it.

“Two years ago I never imagined finding a place like Bridport, never imagined finding myself what I have been doing, the last few days have been amazing.

“I am still studying but do try to work with some of the local conservation and stonework companies. I can get work but finding work on the carving side is difficult, the nearest place might be Exeter Cathedral or Clifton.

“My wife Angie Porter loves it here too.

“You have to make it happen but I do love it.”