Nick Benson

Nicholas Benson carries on his family’s stone inscription carving trade at the John Stephens Shop in Newport, Rhode Island - a business that began in 1705. After apprenticing to his father at age fifteen and learning letter design and calligraphy in Europe, Nick led the shop in hand-carving headstones and commemorative plaques with traditional tools, gaining mastery and an international reputation for his work. Among many commissions, he recently carved the lettering for the Martin Luther King Memorial. In 2007, Nick won a National Heritage Fellowship, America’s highest award in the traditional arts.