If you passed by the roundabout next to Malta airport in Luqa recently, you will have seen a magnificent sculpture fabricated from stainless steel, brass and local limestone. The name of this work of art is 'Paper Plane' and it is the creation of Paolo Giordanella, an artist who originally hails from the UK but has been based in Gozo for many years now. Together with his wife Jayne, they make up Lampuki Arts - a creative hub with the motto: 'Keeping Craft within the Arts'. Coryse Borg has a chat with this artistic duo.

Paolo and Jayne Giordanella first met when they both formed part of the same drama company in England. They had their first date in May 1999, got married in May 1999, and their son Enzo joined them in July 2005, although technically he should have appeared in September - Jayne likes to joke that it's the only event he has ever been early for. They made Gozo their full-time family home in 2010 and have never looked back.

"Paolo's grandmother was Maltese and he has had a place in Gozo for many years. When we met he took me on holiday and I fell in love with Gozo," Jayne reminisces, "Paolo had always told me it was his long-term plan to move there, after visiting that first time, I knew I wouldn't have a problem with that, so long as I had something to keep me occupied. My working experience has mostly been of a managerial content, so it's been a natural progression to manage Lampuki Arts; likewise I have always designed and been interested in the arts so eventually my career path would lead to something artistic. Lampuki Arts is a goal I believe I have been subconsciously working towards all my life."

For Jayne, Gozo has a magical quality. She says she loves the fields and open sky and it is possessed of a wonderful light.

"I'm a bit of a fantasy head and it's not hard to escape to a fantasy world in Gozo. What I don't like are some of the hard realities that bring me down with a bump, for example being on a most picturesque walk and then discovering someone had not the vision to see the beauty but the potential to turn it to a dumping ground. Destructive human behaviour on nature upsets me. It's a worldwide thing, yet I can't help but feel as Gozo is so small it wouldn't take much effort to keep it perfect."

Paolo's career as a sculptor began when he graduated from the Art Academy in London in 2007, although he says that the artist within him has always been present, and through work, study and time he has learnt how to express himself and refine his ideas.

"My inspiration is that which is hidden yet is in plain view," he explains, "The life that goes on around us yet we choose not to see, the unusual within the usual. The imperfect, that presents itself as a beautiful patina upon the fabric of time. Leaving the London suburbs behind and coming to Gozo has provided me with a small patch of land where I can feel closer to nature which includes a more natural lifestyle. I have my studio, I grow my own herbs and vegetables, I collect eggs from my chickens. These simple things keep me in touch with the earth and allow me the time to contemplate and create my art."

Having visited their lovely farmhouse in Gharb, which also doubles as their studios and exhibition space, I can attest to the fact that it is definitely an idyllic existence.

"We will soon have 'The Parlour Gallery' open, which will showcase Paolo's work, and it is our aim to actively promote other artists too," says Jayne. "We already run the Make Your Own Wedding Rings experience where couples come and make their own rings and Paolo also carries out some one-to-one silversmithing teaching. For the future, we plan to expand the programme so that we have specialists come to Gozo and run their own short courses in their creative field for people to attend."

One creation to stem out of Lampuki Arts - and one which mirrors Paolo's on belief that beautiful works of art should be accessible and not hidden away for the privileged few - is what Paolo terms 'Portative Sculpture, which has been developed with the idea of the wearing and displaying of fine art sculpture.

The 'Dare to be Different' jewellery range was inspired from Paolo Giordanella's creation of 'Ugly Beautiful' an eye-catching crafted bronze sculpture of a cockroach. Although the thought of wearing a cockroach round one's neck or as a brooch may sound off-putting to some, it is a striking way for one to display a work of art... once you are assured that it won't move.

The range also includes my own favourite from all the Giordanella creations I have seen - the 'Deco Spider' - a solid silver, rhodium plated spider embellished with a Citrine gem stone entirely hand made by Paolo. It is guaranteed to turn heads as the ultimate fashion statement, if you wear it, although it is certainly not for the arachnophobics out there.

Paolo says his brain is always working on several projects.

"I always keep a few ideas that are being refined in my head until I feel compelled to create the work. Also I never restrict my concepts to the use of any one material or indeed set of skills. Therefore I can often find myself doing a great deal of preparation on one sculpture whilst another piece might only take a couple of weeks I'm privileged in having one public works in prominent places, one in Malta and one in Gozo."

'Il-Ġurat' (The Grasshopper) was completed in 2012 commissioned by the Ministry for Gozo and was selected as part of the Public Art Scheme launched in 2010. It is installed on St. Cecilia roundabout near the old heliport in Ghajnsielem, Gozo is made from copper, brass and stainless steel. 'Paper Plane', was completed in 2015 and was commissioned by the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure was selected from a call for proposals for a monument to commemorate 100 years of aviation in Malta.

"This for me is real art," Paolo smiles, "When one considers that art is merely a tool for communication then the best place to communicate from are open spaces, there is a limit to the amount of communication that can be achieved from the inside of a gallery or an elitist show that only preaches to the initiated, whereas public art confronts all walks of life. This said, public art still has a duty to be accessible and not merely an ego trip for the artist."

More information about Lampuki Arts may be found on: www.lampukiarts.com