Well-known KZN sculptor Basil “Buck” Jones died in Durban recently aged 84. A forthright and individual character, he notched up a long and rewarding career in which he exhibited extensively. His distinctive and beautifully carved and polished sculptures in marble and wood graced many homes and his work is in several public collections.

“He was devoted to his sculpture and to those he worked with,” says Durban artist Marianne Meijer. “An enthusiastic and dedicated teacher, he knew how to instil a love for art and creativity in his students. He himself was a perfectionist and taught many artists who became known in their own right such as Brigitte Maingard, Gerald Baise and Gordon Lowings.”

Buck leaves his son Philip and daughter Marjorie who is also a known KZN artist. His grandson Keith also inherited Buck’s talent for sculpture and is a skilled drum maker.