STONEMASON and carver Matthias Garn has won a scholarship to perfect his skills in his native Germany.

The 31-year-old, from York, has won a £2,750 Queen Elizabeth Scholarship to attend a master course in stonemasonry.

The scholarships are designed to advance education in modern and traditional crafts and trades in the UK.

Mr Garn is an architectural stone carver, stonemason and letter cutter who worked in Dresden, in eastern Germany, and Switzerland before moving to England six years ago.

After two years on the staff at Wells Cathedral, he moved to York, where he has been working with master carver Dick Reid.

Winning the scholarship has allowed Mr Garn to attend a four-month master course in stone masonry, carving and conservation in Demitz-Thumitz, Germany.

With a colleague, he is now setting up a business specialising in figurative and stone carving, stone masonry and lettering.

"My ambition is to follow in Dick Reid's footsteps by building up one of the leading stone carving workshops in the North, producing the finest hand carved work," he said.

"I am passionate about the history and technique of my craft, and will eventually teach the crafts of stone carving and masonry, lecturing about the importance of sustaining the craft and upholding the finest standards of craftsmanship.

"I see myself as a link between past and present generations of craftsmen and am determined to pass on my knowledge and skill."