Sourcing good carving stones

["Jane Mortimer" <jane@zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz>]

Hello all.

I have been getting into some sculpture recently, having previously mainly
concentrated on lettering and relief carving.  I have been working some very
hard, not very pleasant Irish limestone, which has required a great deal of
angle grinding and sweat.  I've been looking at the type of stones used in
other people's work, and have noticed a lot of serpentine, alabaster etc.
which I understand are both softer and take a nice polish.  Could anyone
advise me on where to source alabaster, serpentine, soapstone and any other
nice carving stones, either in the UK or Ireland?  I'm also intrested in
getting hold of some Portland, Ancaster, etc.

By the way, if anyone is in London in the next few weeks, there's a really
excellent exhibition of stone sculpture from Zimbabwe at the OXO Tower
gallery.  It's really worth a visit.

Thanks
Jane