I carved my first stingray at a sculpture symposium in New Zealand six years ago. I was one of a group of artists working at a South Island gallery and I've returned each year since to travel and meet other artists. The area was perfect for seeing stingrays and they also play a part in Maori myth and legend.     I was unsure of the response I would get if I did them here in the UK but surprisingly they have proved to be very popular. Their flowing form, evocative of flight, grace, and danger, creates the perfect subject for sculptural adventures.