Thomas Richard McPhee is a Canadian sculptor whose career has helped define contemporary gemstone carving as a serious, expressive art form. Known for his meticulous technique and classically inspired imagery, McPhee transforms precious and semi-precious stones—and later, cast glass—into small-scale sculptures that feel both ancient and unmistakably modern.

Born in Canada, McPhee graduated from Penticton High School in 1972 and studied graphic arts at the Kootenay School of Art in Nelson (1974–75. In 1976 he travelled to London, England, where he immersed himself in the great museums, studying historical sculpture and carving in depth. This period of independent study became the foundation of his artistic education. While in England he sold his first collection of gemstone carvings.

In 1977 McPhee returned to Canada, settling in Vancouver and attending the Vancouver School of Art (now Emily Carr University), where he studied bronze casting, welding, clay, and painting. Early in his career he produced miniature wax carvings for jewellers and worked with mastodon and mammoth ivory. By 1982 he shifted his focus back to gemstones, drawn to their permanence, colour, translucency, and inherent purity.

In the early 1980s he developed his own gem-carving techniques and rapidly gained recognition as one of the world’s leading artists in this highly specialized medium. His carvings, ranging from jewellery-sized works to larger sculptures, often combine figurative and stylized elements, and frequently explore mythological themes, archetypal imagery, and symbolic narratives. Notable works include the legendary “1492” emerald carving (later incorporated into the Catalina sculpture), the Kitaa ruby from Greenland, and large-scale aquamarine portrait carvings.

McPhee’s expertise and process have been extensively documented. He authored a long-running series for Lapidary Journal on the craft of gem carving—from building a workshop and preparing tools to developing musculature, feathers, fur, and surface finishes in stone. His work has been featured on the covers and pages of numerous international publications, including Modern Jeweler, Lapidary Journal, Gems & Gemology, and others.

In 1998 McPhee expanded his practice to include kiln-cast glass, creating finely detailed, translucent sculptures that echo his gem work on a different scale. Throughout his career, his pieces have been exhibited internationally—in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia—and are held in private and institutional collections worldwide.

McPhee has also contributed to public art and charitable projects, from reverse-intaglio pendants for gala fundraisers to large-scale works like Narissa, an eight-foot mermaid sculpture for Rotary Marine Park on Salt Spring Island. His practice continues to be guided by a belief in the enduring power of finely crafted objects—works that, in his words, “transcend the here and now, creating a hopeful sense of the eternal totality of one’s existence.”

“The source of my inspiration in using gemstones as a primary vehicle for expression lies in their intrinsic qualities—permanence, beauty, purity, and inner light. These materials allow me to pursue a highly refined perfection of form, creating objects that feel timeless rather than transient. Whether working in precious stones or cast glass, I aim to carve sculptures that transcend the here and now and suggest a hopeful sense of the eternal.”

Education & Training

• Penticton High School, 1972
  
• Kootenay School of Art, Graphic Arts, 1974–75
  
• Independent studies in London museums and galleries, 1976–77
  
• Vancouver School of Art (now Emily Carr University), 1977–78
  

Career Highlights

• Early miniature wax carvings for jewellers
  
• Developed proprietary gemstone carving techniques in early 1980s
  
• International reputation as a master gemstone carver and cast-glass sculptor
  
• Works in quartz, agate, jade, emerald, sapphire, ruby, and other precious/semi-precious stones
  

Selected Notable Works

• 1492 Emerald Carving (later Catalina sculpture)
  
• Kitaa ruby carving (Greenland ruby, True North Gems)
  
• Large aquamarine portrait carving (7.5 kg)
  
• Numerous reverse-intaglio and figurative gemstone carvings
  

Selected Exhibitions (Highlights)

• Tucson Gem & Mineral Show (multiple years)
  
• Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, Chicago
  
• Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh
  
• Basel Jewellery Show, Switzerland (multiple years)
  
• Various galleries across Canada, USA, Japan, Bahrain, and Europe
  

Public & Media Presence

• Multi-part technical series in Lapidary Journal on gem carving
  
• Features in Canadian Jeweller, Modern Jeweler, Gems & Gemology, Robb Report, and more
  
• Multiple TV and radio interviews (CBC, UTV, etc.)
  

Awards

• 1st Place, AGTA Cutting Edge Award (1994)
  

Public / Donation Works (Selection)

• Narissa – 8 ft mermaid sculpture for Rotary Marine Park, Salt Spring Island
  
• Numerous donated gemstone and glass works for JDRF and other charitable organizations
  

Representation / Collections

• Works in private collections worldwide
  
• Included in major gem and lapidary exhibitions and museum holdings internationally