I’ve just returned from a week-long trip to Myanmar and the city of Mandalay to take photographs for my current book commission. Mandalay is to Myanmar what Chiang Mai is to Thailand – the centre of the country’s arts and crafts industry.  Weaving, bronze casting, stone carving and much more can all be found here.

As with most arts in Myanmar the focus of the stone carvers is religious. In one part of town the streets are lined with the workshops of skilled craftsmen who attack pure white marble with angle grinders and drills to create the most enigmatic Buddha images.

Carvings of all sizes, from the smallest keepsake to monumental three-metre high statues, can be seen in all stages of production.

It’s a fascinating area to explore, especially in the early morning when monks and nuns walk the streets collecting alms.