AN award-winning sculptor whose work has been exhibited all over the world has died, aged 56.

Keith Rand was made a Royal Scottish Academician in 2005 in recognition of his contribution to contemporary sculpture, and more recently elected a member of the Royal British Society of Sculpture.

Working mainly in wood, he used native timbers which reflected his interest in environmental matters.

He established a studio at Clarendon Park after his work was shown in a major exhibition of British sculpture at Salisbury Cathedral in 1999, and settled in Salisbury and Cranborne Chase.

His work was acquired for major collections in the UK, Japan and Europe, and he was frequently awarded commissions for large site-specific works which can be found in rural landscapes throughout the UK as well as in London, Edinburgh and Bournemouth.

The son of a lieutenant colonel in the British Army, Mr Rand was born in Rinteln, West Germany, entering Woodroffe School in Dorset as a boarder at the age of 13.

On leaving he trained as a cartographic surveyor for Ordnance Survey in Southampton before enrolling at the Winchester School of Art, graduating in 1982 with first class honours.

He went on to work at the Scottish Sculpture Workshop in Aberdeenshire and became one of its directors. He was also a part-time lecturer at Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen Schools of Art.

In 1996 he became sculptor in residence to Cannington Agricultural College in Somerset, creating a series of landscape structures for the River Parrett Trail.

It was following a visit to Japan, where he developed his original form motif (with one standing at more than four metres high being bought for Canary Wharf), that the Stephen Lacey Gallery began to represent him with his first solo exhibition in London. Later he was represented by John Martin.

In 2002, having been invited to develop a concept carving ‘Ridgeline’ for Sculpture at Goodwood, his work was exhibited at the Guggenheim in Venice.

His work was also shown locally in exhibitions at Mompesson House, Winchester Cathedral and Salisbury Arts Centre.

Recent sculpture commissions included The Grain for Sainsbury's in Edinburgh and By The Downs for ArtCare at Salisbury District Hospital.

He died on March 17 and his funeral service is taking place at St Lawrence Church, Stratford-sub-Castle at 2pm on April 19