'Art & Soul' Exhibition Archive

Surrey-based, Adam Aaronson specialises in free blown glass. His coloured patinas draw on painterly techniques and are predominately inspired by a love of nature, especially the play of light on water and the landscape. He is a consummate colourist and the Impressionist painters have been a significant inspiration for his work.

‘I explore the organic form of each sculpture, celebrating the natural flow and force of molten glass, sometimes leaving behind traditional requirements for functionality.’

Local artist, Alison paints in resins, acrylics and inks and often introduces other materials like leaves, twigs and bark so that her work takes on a textural effect. Alison is inspired by the beauty of the natural world and her passion for travelling. She paints spontaneously from thoughts and feelings and allows her imagination to run freely and intuitively. Her work is unpredictable. Each piece has its own story to tell and can create quite different responses in different viewers.

Margie is a painter who divides her time between her studios in Surrey and the Cape Winelands. She creates vibrant, exuberant still lives. Her ‘Harvesting the Light’ series was inspired by the joy of home-grown produce and the need for us to return to a simpler, less destructive way of living. Margie has had ten solo exhibitions in the UK, South Africa and the USA.

A sense of humour and a keen observation of nature are the driving forces behind the figurative sculpture of Jon Barrett-Danes. Jon’s early years spent exploring the wild hills that surrounded his home led him to be a keen observer of nature in all its guises and this has been translated into his animal sculptures that confront and challenge the onlooker. There is, however, lurking behind those beady eyes, a wealth of fun embodied in the lively and richly personal vocabulary that he has made his own - guaranteed to make you smile!

Jon completed his degree in ceramics at UWE, Bristol in 1985, having specialized in thrown ware and glaze development. He also spent time building kilns and experimenting with wood-fired salt glaze.

He subsequently worked as a ceramic technician, travelled a lot, did landscape gardening and other short-term jobs before returning to his first love of working with clay while also training to be a teacher. He has taught on and off ever since – currently teaching adults ceramic sculpture at West Dean college in Sussex and, more recently, running workshops for blind and visually impaired students at New College, Worcester.

Alison paints directly from the landscape, both at home and along the Cornish coastline. These initial experiences inspire the large gestural paintings created in her Hampshire studio. Alison’s curiosity with layered surfaces and marks has led her to explore various media - painting with oil or acrylics and more recently encaustic wax. Her paintings have vitality, with a play of light built from layers of textures and atmospheric glazed colour.

Local artist, Andy says this about her work:
‘My figures, either human or animal are very rarely from a single model. The idea comes first. A phrase, a cave drawing, a newspaper image. I cherry pick - her face, his posture, that attitude. I pick up the clay and finally, there comes the eyes-shut moment when the finished piece is clear in my mind and all other images are discarded. The idea is transformed into a cold cast metal or a fired ceramic sculpture- it’s done, it lives.’

Andrew finished his degree at Chelsea School of Art in 1976.

As he puts it, ‘Life then got in the way of painting and I did not start again until I took voluntary redundancy in 2011. The large gap seems to have changed my painting (for the better I think). The complex carefully observed foliage studies are very different from my earlier work.’

​Andrew’s foliage studies are painstakingly produced and capture the life of the hedgerow or meadow many of us may remember from childhood.

Simon Probyn is a sculptor who works using heavy industrial steel. Based in rural Herefordshire, he creates abstract and figurative works of art from both found and new material. He takes man-made architectural steel designs and lets them subtly dictate a new purpose.
Simon came late to sculpting but over the last eight years he has been able to focus his full attention on his art and has been successful in creating highly original works, some of which have featured in award-winning Chelsea Flower Show gardens.

A professional artist, Carol trained at St Martin’s School of Art under Sir Anthony Caro and Phillip King. She is passionate about the muscular form, movement, and power of the animals that she models. Her aim is to catch their vitality, nature and personality without compromising the anatomical integrity of the sculpture. She casts all her own work, as the process enables her to retain complete control over the finished sculptures including the surface finish and patination. Commissions include three Bronze Wolves at the University of Surrey and Sumatran Tigers at ZSL (London Zoo).

After completing courses in Commercial Art and Graphic Design at the Worthing College of Art, Allan pursued a career within the construction industry. During that period, he maintained his artistic interests and obtained various commissions including public art which remains on permanent display. Allan is now a full-time sculptor primarily forming in clay and casting in cold metals and resin stone from his studio in East Sussex.

Since graduating from from Loughborough University in 2000 with a degree in Fine Art, Alison has been specialising in metalwork, creating sculptures inspired by nature and wildlife. She is particularly known for her intricate and often comical birds. Alison has had several successful solo exhibitions at RHS and National Trust gardens creating sculpture trails of her birds and other animals. She exhibits widely and often works to commission or runs workshops either in schools or from her studio in Shere.

As Alison says, ‘I enjoy what I do, I want that to be evident in the finished sculpture and I hope that it brings a bit of happiness to the people that look at it. I love nothing more than when someone looks at one of my sculptures and smiles.’

Carol is an ‘animalier’ – a specialist in sculpting animals. She trained at St Martin’s School of Art under Sir Anthony Caro and Phillip King. Her research is meticulous, her observation acute and her modelling skills direct and vibrant. Her mastery of the casting process enables her to retain complete control over the finished sculptures including surface finish and patination.

As she says, “I am passionately interested in the muscular form, movement, and power of the animals that I model. I aim to catch their vitality, nature and personality without compromising the anatomical integrity of the sculpture.”

​Carol was commissioned to cast three Wolves in Foundry Bronze on the University of Surrey campus, and a Sumatran cub and adolescent Tiger for London Zoo.

Edwin, having multiple heritages, draws upon them for inspiration for his work. He mostly focuses on portraits; he says the expression of each face is original and can never be repeated. Of billions of faces in the world, everyone is original and individual and with Edwin's unique take and twist on his portraits he too tries to create unique artistic images.

Debra studied at Bournemouth College of Art and Design and completed her fine art degree at Ravensbourne College in the 1980s. She has exhibited throughout the UK and internationally in particular as part of the time she lived in Norway. Debra draws upon the landscape, especially coastal regions, and the figure for inspiration. Her paintings are based on the quick charcoal sketches she does in situ. These are used as a framework for her mixed media paintings. Collage is an essential element to create form, together with a simple palette which achieves a refreshing and effective interpretation of the subject matter.

‘My present aim is to create a melange between nature and machine: aircraft and bird, aeroplane and whale, airplane and plant. As a sculptor I feel I should represent the world around me as I see and feel it. I am attracted to aircraft. They are a symbol of our modern world, they are our past, our present and, it seems, our future. Airplanes have history, glamour, action, service, ever-present reliance; they are form through function and I find their feminine beauty mesmerising.
‘My sculptures appear as if they could have grown rather than have been made - a previously undiscovered species or mechanised creature?’

A former teacher, Pauline is now a full-time glass artist under the banner of ‘Studio Shards’. As she says, ‘My work is inspired by living close to the coast in West Sussex and spending a great deal of time in Cornwall. Taking inspiration from walking, being immersed in the landscape in all weathers. I am completely self-taught when it comes to glass. I love the rich colours and the excitement of opening up the kiln to see what alchemy has occurred.

Carol’s work has vibrancy, excitement and a sense of fun. She works on all scales up double life sized. She trained at St Martin’s School of Art under Sir Anthony Caro and Phillip King. Carol now has a studio at her home in Guildford Surrey. As she says: “I am passionately interested in the muscular form, movement, and power of the animals that I model. I aim to catch their vitality, nature and personality without compromising the anatomical integrity of the sculpture.”

Allan’s latest collection reflects human expression observing activities of the everyday. Adding humour and exaggerated drama brings his figures to life as they sit above the garden plants keeping a watchful eye over things. Working in his studio in Sussex, he creates sculpture in a range of media. The final piece can be made up of several smaller elements forming the overall picture. Allan trained in graphic and commercial art, entering the world of sculpture full time after a career in construction. HIs work is exhibited with the Royal Horticultural Society, National Trust and Crown Estate.

Born in Paris, Marie is a French sculptor living in the UK. In her words:
‘My work explores animal presence, strength, and movement through geometry, an emphasis on rhythm and form. I am trying to go beyond realism and tradition to capture a contemporary work with the essence of the subject that speaks on some level to the soul. Some of the works also start deep into abstraction, moving further away from reality.’

Carole brings a fresh set of techniques and materials to Art & Soul. Folding and pinching techniques taken from origami, together with stitching and gusseting skills taken from needlework and embroidery, are applied to flexible materials to construct organic sculpture that sits harmoniously in landscape and interior settings.

Carole is a Fellow of the Royal British Society of Sculptors and exhibits widely around the country including the Royal Academy summer exhibitions.

International sculptor, Dawn Conn merges memory, wonder and joy. Each sculpture has its own narrative and emotional connection that touches the free spirit in us, most often through memories of childhood. She is drawn to the times when we lived and played in our own imagination: dressing up, making huts and castles or sometimes just quietly inventing our own worlds. Dawn's work is essentially figurative and rooted in human connections. She aims to evoke the moment - the energy, the glee, our curiosity, the tenderness in our hearts.

After attending Art College in Rochester, Andrea continued painting whilst following a career in travel and tourism. Her interest in wildlife and the world meant that everywhere she travelled she had the opportunity to capture beautiful photographs of wildlife and local people, some of which she has painted.

Although her current focus is animal portraits in oils, she creates artwork for a variety of subjects - including people, still life, landscapes, seascapes and sports scenes.

Having created props for the musical ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ and the English National Opera, Jonathan sculpted for models and effects in TV and film. In 2003 he began creating his own work, thus turning his passion into a career. All aspects of the natural world inspire Jonathan. Working in clay, he enjoys the challenge of creating from both the real and imagined. Through his close observation and manipulation of materials, Jonathan creates detail and texture or surface bas-relief on his sculptures, which are hand finished and painted to accentuate the relief. Jonathan’s sculpture has been exhibited widely, both in the UK and Internationally.

Local artist, Andrea Meakin is known for her detailed pet portraits, wildlife, and seascape paintings, primarily in oil. Her artistic journey began at Rochester Art College, followed by a career that included extensive global travel as an airline cabin crew member and working onboard cruise ships including the QE2. These travels, filled with unique wildlife encounters, greatly influenced her wildlife-themed artworks.
Andrea won the Marwell Wildlife Zoo Award at the Southern Nature Art Exhibition 2023 and also won the SAA Amateur Artist of the Year 2023 People's Choice Award.

Lisa is a Landscape wildlife and nature artist. Inspired by her love of the countryside and the sea her landscapes painted in oil are all about colour, texture, pattern and light.

​As she says, ‘Nature is not all clean and tidy, there’s lots going on and I try to simplify it yet give the viewer lots to find at the same time.’

​Lisa exhibits widely, has won several awards for her artwork and been published by a number of Art Magazines

Carole has a degree in Fine Art from the University of Kent and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Sculptors. She works from her studio in Kent where her imagination is sparked by watching her garden change and develop throughout the year. The diversity of texture, form and design she sees in nature feeds into the organic and abstract pieces she creates. Her inspiring sculpture is created by using a mixture of techniques that involves manipulating flexible materials into rigid organic forms. Different types of aluminium are coaxed into fluid shapes, strengthened with steel and coated with resin.

Martin has been a professional figurative sculptor since 1996. His work covers a wide variety of subjects including dancers, children, animals, portraits and motor sport. He casts in bronze and other materials for the garden and home. As he says,

‘I try to create powerful and dramatic sculptures, which have a beauty of form. Sculpture should be tactile, drawing the viewer to want to interact physically as well as visually with the work. With a lifetime fascination with the way a body moves, I enjoy the challenge of capturing the essence of movement, balance and tension within a static sculpture.’

Martin’s is a regular exhibitor at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and in 2012 was commissioned to produce a sculpture for the entrance hall of one of the Olympic training venues.

After a degree in graphic design, Maria worked in advertising and then as a freelance illustrator. Now a full-time painter, her work is contemporary, colourful, exciting, imaginative and impressionistic. Based in Surrey, she is inspired by the nature and wildlife around her and through her travels. Her paintings use acrylics, offering a bright, colourful and creative effect. Into each painting, goes a lot of love, dedication and patience.

Born in Guildford, Fiona studied Art at the College of Art and Design in Farnham. She works mainly in acrylic, applying thick layers with credit cards, fingers and occasionally a brush, in her studio in Hampshire. Her work is inspired by the beautiful local countryside where she walks daily with her dog; but her love of colours and use of space on the canvas is what excites her most about painting. Fiona sees the world in a geometric format, breaking down images into shapes before translating that on to canvas.

Andy lives on the slopes of Blackdown in the Surrey Hills. She likes to model animals, life size if possible, but also occasionally humans - her previous training in human biology triumphing. Her figures, either human or animal are very rarely from a single model. The idea comes first. She then visits farms, galleries, takes photos, sources images on the internet and from books. The piece evolves day by day. She doesn’t always seek anatomical accuracy but works with the mantra – ‘if it looks right, it is right’.

Andy shows her work in various UK exhibitions and her sculptures are held in private collections in the UK and Europe.

Formerly a successful fashion designer, specialising in suede and leather outfits for prominent celebrities, and nominated for the Designer of the Year Award in 1982, Lizzie now directs her creative energy into painting. Inspired by her beautiful woodland surroundings in leafy Surrey, Lizzie tries to capture the organic shapes and movement of nature. Sometimes her paintings can replicate the knots and crevices found in trees or water weaving its way through a crevice in a rock formation. Much is left to the imagination as the power of the painting is not strictly representational but can mean different things to different people. Her technique is known as ‘fluid art’ in which she makes a variety of recipes with acrylic paint, mixed with different media to get the desired effect.

Much of Simon’s sculpture is inspired by life in a rural setting - in particular, the connections between ordinary people going about their everyday business. Often playful, his clay characters, in ordinary poses and settings, are full of life.

His studio is set in the dramatic landscape of Corvedale in Shropshire, between Wenlock Edge and Brown Clee Hill.

Angela says, ‘Originally having studied fashion design, I returned to full time education to study Ceramics. It was during that time my direction changed from making vessels into becoming ever more figurative, being influenced by the female form, and I started to draw inspiration from the fashion world - the way fabric and drapery create new shapes, constantly changing appearance with the body’s movement.

‘The work has continued to evolve and develop more figuratively, becoming more emotive, capturing the modern idiom, whilst preserving the values of classical figurative sculpture. Ultimately my work revolves around depicting the female form and looking at its sensuality and inherent beauty.’

Angela has been a regular exhibitor at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Her work is in private collections around the world.

Ellie creates beautiful, contemporary stained-glass designs for outside spaces, inspired by natural shapes and forms and set in bespoke steel frames. She uses traditional techniques to hand-build her sculptures incorporating exquisite textured and coloured glass, giving a quality of depth and life as the weather and seasons change. Her art draws in the observer, instilling a sense of calm contemplation as the sculptures nestle in harmony with nature.

Gary Scott’s sculptures range from figuration to abstraction, referencing and evoking nature and the body in challenging ways. His bronze and plaster works embody the process of making with dynamic, roughly hewn surfaces that imply the forms are vying for life or attempting to dissolve themselves. Simultaneously witty, sexy, playful and macabre, Gary’s sculptures reach, wilt, twist and tear themselves into being. References from literature, music and art history are embraced, channelled and wilfully distorted to create works that reflect desire, conflict and our ability to connect with the world.

Lynn is a local mosaicist who creates wall-hung pictures and garden art like stepping-stones, usually featuring wildlife. She seems to have endless patience, spending many hours cutting and fitting tiny glass and ceramic tiles to produce memorable images.

Greg is based in Effingham in Surrey. Brought up in an influential design and art family setting, he has grown a passion for abstract shapes and natural forms. He now creates unique garden and outdoor features working almost exclusively in metal – mostly steel. He says, ‘I seek inspiration from all types of gardens and settings, and favour the idea of using single lengths of material to create sculptures with unique, thought-provoking shapes and forms, not purposely based on any existing flower or plant. All of my sculptures are completely handmade, cold hand bent and shaped by eye; no former is used. This means all pieces are unique and have a natural, organic feel.’

Diana studied 3D design specialising in ceramics at Middlesex University followed by a teaching career in Further Education. Alongside her lecturing she has always continued to design, produce and develop her distinctive ceramics.

Diana has exhibited her work in various galleries throughout the UK primarily in ‘garden galleries’ as her work is intended for the outside environment. Diana feels it is important that her pieces enrich their surroundings without dominating. As a means to this end she has studied the changing harmonies and rhythms inherent in natural forms and sought to bring those observations into her work.

Helen is a contemporary artist and sculptor. She has exhibited in galleries and exhibitions internationally and her work is in many private collections. Notably in 2016 she was commissioned to produce a bronze horse sculpture for the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Helen’s paintings are inspired by the beauty of natural light, its influence on colour, shape and the landscape. She specializes in using golden and metal leaf, iridescent pigments and glazes. Each painting has many different techniques using mixed media pigments in many layers to create a contemporary but realistic painting.

Lynn is a local mosaicist who creates wall-hung pictures and garden art like stepping-stones, usually featuring wildlife. She seems to have endless patience, spending many hours cutting and fitting tiny glass and ceramic tiles to produce memorable images. Lynn is a passional gardener who creates the stunning backdrop for the sculpture trail at Art & Soul every year, much praised by artist and visitor alike.

‘I have been painting for over 45 years and the majority of my recent work has been in oils, and pastels. I love painting” plein air” whenever I can, in all sorts of weathers. My work is loose realistic with subjects ranging from marine/river scenes, landscapes as well as portraits and life. I have been a member of The Wapping Group of Artists for the past 18 years, painting at various venues along the Thames and London. I am an exhibiting member at Guildford and Farnham Art Societies. I have had pictures accepted at the RSMA, RI, ROI, The Pastel Society, and The Mall galleries in London.’

Based in Hampshire, Barry is a self-taught artist who takes his inspiration in urban and rural landscapes from his travels both at home and aboard. Painting mainly with acrylic and oils, he uses pallet knives and other scrapers such as old credit cards to explore the use of colour, light and tone. He believes in taking risks in order to give a painting its spirit and vitality. Such risks manifest themselves in the way he sees or interprets a subject - to try and ‘see beyond seeing’. What is then in his head may be beyond reality – but translating that is what makes the work exciting.

Sue is a watercolour artist based in Dippenhall, near Farnham. Her life as an artist began at Art School, followed by a career in publishing as a book designer. She returned to painting and started a company named Cups & Saucers, focusing her paintings primarily on antique chinaware. Her clients during this period included Whittards, Peter Jones and Leeds Castle.

Sue’s subjects are now primarily seascapes, landscapes and still life, painted in places as diverse as Scotland, Cornwall, France, Morocco, and the USA. Sue is a frequent exhibitor at Farnham Art Society, Surrey Artists Open Studio and venues throughout the county. Sue has twice won the prestigious ‘best watercolour’ prize at the annual Farnham Art Society exhibition.

There is a strong sense of game-playing in Teresa Martin’s sculptures. Always pushing the boundaries of casting techniques, her use of materials and moulds enables original ideas to blossom - evident in her 35 years of teaching, with a career dedicated to making creativity available to all.
Teresa’s works may be cast in metal or stone resin, but the rhythmic manipulation of clay in differing states dictate the textural effects. The consistency of clay is affected by the passing of time and application to an armature, or into a mould, can become a performance - frantic, fiddly and fatalistic.

‘Early in my retirement from teaching, in 2005 I attended a course on using wire as a model making material and have been working with wire ever since that time. My main interest is in British wild and domestic animals, though I have been known to venture into more exotic realms on occasions. My galvanised wire creations are often in an animated position, just having caught sight or sound of something.
‘In differing lights, day by day, the pieces can appear very transparent and ghostly or very dense and solid. Sunlight makes lovely shadows as it shines through the netting. Galvanised wire takes enamel paint very well so colour can be incorporated into the piece.’

Seamus qualified as an Art Teacher in Ireland in the late 70s. After moving to the UK, he set up an Arts Centre for adults with physical disabilities in Leatherhead and ran this for almost 20 years. Seamus has been creating his own sculptures since 1996 and works from his studio in Chessington, Surrey.

​Modelled clay has historically been Seamus’s preferred medium as it allows great freedom to experiment with form and texture. He also enjoys exploring the unique sculptural possibilities and challenge of working with resistive materials such as wood and metal. His style ranges from realistic to semi-abstract and his subject matter is mainly figurative (human and animal).

Hilary works in Acrylic and Mixed Media to produce atmospheric compositions of cityscapes. She says:

‘In my cityscapes I strive to capture a constant yet ever-changing landscape, I use layers, blurred edges and unconscious marks to suggest a mood or a place perhaps somewhere as yet unknown.’
At a distance Hilary’s work may appear architecturally precise yet the closer one looks the more the boundaries between that which is static and that which is in motion become transfixingly blurred.

Local artist, Paula studied at Newlyn School of Art and at West Dean College, gaining a Diploma in Art and Design. As a semi-abstract landscape artist, she works primarily in acrylics and mixed media, immersing herself in the raw beauty of nature. Her creative process is influenced by the landscape of the South Downs, Cumbrian Fells and the rugged cliffs of Cornwall - wide open skies and dramatic rock formations. She aims to capture the light, movement and texture of the earth with gestural marks, layering and an array of tools. By working in this way, the viewer can not only see the landscape but feel the space she is portraying.

Beth Richardson´s paintings challenge our perceptions of the ordinary as mundane, and through intriguing imagery, suggestive narratives and ambiguous compositions, she invites us to join a conversation, often with inanimate objects, in reflecting on our own human nature and how interconnected we are with the world around us.

Beth is an international selling artist showing in significant galleries and shows within the art world. Collectors from around the world are slowly discovering, to their delight, the profundity of her paintings.

Suzie says, ‘I have a classical style in my work and draw inspiration from ancient, fragmented sculptures, using the torso as my main focal point. Working both from life and intuitively, my expressive figures celebrate the strength and beauty of the female form. Through twisting, arching and stretching, my forms express tension and energy capturing movement in clay. I use life drawings as a starting point for my clay figurative sculptures and continue developing the forms in my art studio in Lewes, East Sussex. I am fascinated with ceramic glazes and oxides and my work explores colour though a variety of surface finishes.

‘I want to create sculptures that have a tactile quality, that draw you in so that you can experience new qualities and appealing forms from all angles.’

Contemporary sculptor Helen Solly transforms sheet metal into animated flowing forms, often burnishing the surface to give different reflective qualities, creating a sense of movement from this resistant material. She gained a first-class ‘Fine Art with Sculpture’ degree from Chichester University and gets inspiration from nature in beautiful West Sussex, where she lives and works

Jacqui's collage is fashioned from a fusion of recycled tickets, maps, recipes, labels, old photographs, poems, handwritten notes and doodles. Each of her pieces is unique and has a story to tell - a narrative woven into the artwork from snippets of printed literature and images.

​Jacqui is very passionate about collage and the idea that new purpose can be given to materials which are perceived to be no longer of use. She treats the printed colours like tubes of pigment, blending them together to create the final composition.

​Jacqui's pieces have been purchased by collectors from all over the world including Europe, North America and Africa. Her work is also in The Natural History Museum of London. Jacqui travels extensively with her husband finding new inspiration in remote places.

‘From bold and abstract composition of shape, contour and colour to intricate textured work I continue to push my painting in all directions, evolving in subject matter, media and styles. Although sometimes simple in appearance and creating underlying emotions, my work is complex and carefully crafted to the enquiring mind. My work reflects thoughts and aims to lift the spirit and promote a sense of harmony. Inspired by events, my work is a celebration of life and all its layers and relationships.’

Gary grew up in South Gloucestershire and studied welding and fabrication at the City of Bath college. This formed the basis of his career until he moved to New Zealand in 2007 where he began creating sculpture. Having moved back to the UK in 2017 and now based in the New Forest, he continues to create contemporary, kinetic, figurative sculpture. His chosen media are stainless steel, Corten steel and mild steel for both interior and exterior settings. Gary’s work can be found in many countries in private and corporate settings.

Formerly an Artist Blacksmith, David moved to Purbeck and a combination of building his garden from scratch and gaining inspiration from the Jurassic coast moved him a different direction. His work is now inspired by natural forms with a particular emphasis on texture and finish, especially texture inspired by the area’s rich and diverse geology and flora. David works with many metals including iron and steel, stainless steel, bronze, copper and silver. He has a passion for flowing and sweeping curves.

Veronica is a sculptor of one-of-a-kind stone sculptures. Born and having spent half her life in Surrey, she currently lives in the wild and beautiful Cambrian mountains in Mid Wales. With degrees in Geology and Chiropractic in her background, she’s had a variety of occupations. It wasn’t until she took a one-day stone carving workshop in 2010 that she found and pursued her passion for sculpting in stone. A proponent of learning by doing, Veronica is self-taught, and believes this will be a lifelong process.

Veronica particularly enjoys working with alabaster because of its translucence, colours, patterns, and possible finishes. Believing beauty and touch to be essential in our modern lives, she attempts to create pieces that appeal to our sense of touch as well as being visually beautiful. Veronica’s unique sculptures vary from representative to more abstract pieces. She has always had a real love of animals, the outdoors, and the natural world, and it is this that has inspired much of her work to date.

Veronica earned early success being selected as a finalist in the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation Wildlife Artist of the Year competitions from 2011 to 2015, exhibiting at London’s prestigious Mall Galleries - an annual, international event raising money for wildlife conservation. She has also exhibited at the Society for Wildlife Artists Mall Galleries Natural Eye Exhibition.

Paul Harvey was a British sculptor and artist who has sold sculptures all over the world. Paul sculpted since the age of 10 and his love of birds and Art Deco design inspired much of his work. His works are cast in marble and metal resins, and there is also a small collection of foundry bronzes.

A regular exhibitor and friend of Art & Soul over the years, Paul sadly passed away in June 2023, after being diagnosed with a brain tumour. His wife Sarah worked alongside Paul for the past 25 years from their studio in the middle of the Hampshire countryside, surrounded by wildlife on the edge of a half-acre pond. She continues to produce his beautiful sculptures, with the help of their son Christian and daughter Eloise.

Surrey artist, Helen describes her approach to painting: ‘I am a contemporary artist working in acrylic & mixed media. I find my inspiration in the structural world around me, either in busy city life or in the tranquillity of beautiful villages. I want the architectural element to be understood but mainly I try to capture the mood and spirit of the location’.

Jo studied sculpture under Ivor Roberts-Jones and Michael Kenney at Goldsmiths College during the late 1960s and then attended Reading University for a postgraduate teaching year. Her work is concerned with the human form and its relationships with and comparisons to, landscape and environment. Her sculptures are ambiguous, self-contained characters – quiet, contemplative, serene, with heads bowed or skyward looking – together yet apart.

​Her sculpture is in private collections in this country, Australia, USA and Denmark and also includes some commissioned portraits.

Having created props for the musical The Phantom of the Opera and the English National Opera, Jonathan sculpted for TV and film. In 2003 he began creating his own work, thus turning his passion into a new career. All aspects of the natural world inspire Jonathan. Working in clay, he enjoys the challenge of creating from both the real and imagined. Through his close observation and manipulation of materials, Jonathan creates detail and texture or surface bas-relief on his sculptures, which are hand finished and painted to accentuate the relief. Working from his studio in Kent, Jonathan’s work has been exhibited widely, both in the UK and Internationally.

Born in Nigeria, educated in England, Yeside Linney retired from teaching English at secondary level eleven years ago. She is a Surrey-based artist, her love of the countryside being the strongest influence on her work. She focuses primarily on semi-representational landscapes and vibrant abstracts mainly in acrylics and mixed media. She is developing an ongoing visual autobiography, examining sense of identity through the conflict of her British education and her denied Nigerian heritage.
Yeside has had considerable success: Runner-Up in the 2021 Surrey Artist of the Year competition, she also received national recognition winning both The Euan Millar Abstract Prize and The Susan Angoy Prize for an Artist of Black and Caribbean Heritage in The Woman in Art Award 2022.

Joe creates 2D and 3D contemporary glass art always experimenting with new ideas and learning new skills. He loves sharp contrasts and enjoys stepping away from glass as the primary medium combining it with other media, such as metal and ceramic.

In his glasswork, Joe uses leaded glass and copper foil techniques. He usually combines glass and ceramic as the latter has a different texture from that of the glass surface and can add depth to works. He uses clay to make elements that he cannot make from glass, so that there is much more movement in his pieces.

The sea, especially where the water runs into land is an important source of inspiration for him. He also likes to make pieces that have a historic or art based theme. Joe is fascinated by eyes: we always look into someone else’s and, every now and again, into our own.

Based on the votes of the public visiting open studios in Surrey, Joe has been invited to take part in the Surrey Artist of the Year exhibition four times (2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014). He came third in 2010 and was the runner up in 2014.

‘Working in glass, my imagination is captured as each piece is unique and of the moment. The material incorporates fluidity, beauty and reflection. It can be flamboyant and subtle, controlled yet contrary but always seductive. Glass has a magical element and I use two techniques: fusing and casting.
‘I am influenced by nature, especially water, ice, the sea, and all marine associations. Earth and evolutionary patterns are especially fascinating. They provide a gallery of ingenious designs from animals to plants, landforms to the stars. I am also interested in conservation and moving forward I want to create pieces that have a message.’

Joe works in his studio in Buckland, Surrey. He trained as a stained-glass maker but in recent years he has focused on creating contemporary works of art. He loves sharp contrasts and enjoys stepping away from glass as the primary medium combining it with other media. For his sculptures, he makes mild steel and stainless steel metal frames and then inserts stained glass or Dalle de Verre panels in them.

In his 2D works, Joe uses leaded glass and copper foil techniques. He usually combines glass and ceramic as the latter has a different texture from that of the glass surface and can add depth to works.

Local artist, Richard, has been in the metalworking business for over 40 years and his skills have been developed through the generations as his father and grandfather were both blacksmiths.
Richard loves to create through the medium of metal, and he works with bronze, brass, copper and stainless steel. He particularly enjoys working with stainless steel as he loves the light and depth of colour from its reflection that is created through the seasons.

Inspired by the human figure in motion, Michelle specialises in dynamic wire sculptures which have a living quality, embracing a moment in time. Michelle’s work is deeply rooted in the traditional representation of human anatomy. Working in the contemporary material of steel wire allows light and shadow to enhance the sculpture in dramatic ways.
Michelle studied for her B.A hons at the University of Sunderland in 1998, thereafter pursuing her career in making sculptures for private and public spaces. She has created installations for public and private spaces around the UK and beyond.

Gilbert qualified in Architecture at Manchester University, studied sculpture at Kensington & Chelsea and metal sculpture at Morley College and South Thames College. He teaches part time at Heatherley’s School of Fine Art, Richmond Adult Education College and The Art Academy, London. He works in clay, welded steel, terracotta and recycled materials.

He is a member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors and has exhibited widely, notably at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. Gilbert's work is in private collections in the UK, New York, and Australia.

‘I am currently studying Fine Art at Bath Spa University. I try to create a celestial atmosphere that isn’t quite visible in the true natural world. I want to paint that blurred line between reality and unreality, a familiar scene of nature that bursts at the seam. My work is deeply inspired by mother nature, the idea of femininity being explored in a more assertive way instead of delicately. I want to show a sense of urgency in my brushstrokes, contrasted with more detailed areas of precise natural elements.’

Henriette was born in Holland and has lived in France, Colombia and Brazil where she was taught art by local artists. She came to the UK 25 years ago and has settled here with her two children.

Henriette took up sculpture around 18 years ago, in a complete turnaround from her degree in French language and literature. She now also expresses herself in 2D media. In 2013 she qualified as an Art psychotherapist and has her own private practice, working with both children and adults. Both lines of work are continuously diverging from and complimenting each other through an endless stream of human and thus emotional interaction and inspiration. This has resulted in her current portfolio of abstract paintings.

Henriette’s sculpture is about emotion, expressed through an attitude, a posture, a movement. Both the human figure and nature itself hold an everlasting fascination for her. Her artwork often is without a title, inviting the viewer to enjoy the piece in their own unique manner.

Henriette is the current Chair of the Surrey Sculpture Society.

‘I have always struggled with writing Artist Statements, mainly because the word ‘statement’ is so static and final. For me, my pieces are the beginning of a story, one in which I create their reason for being, but which may have begun a thousand years before or just yesterday. As I form them with my hands, my imagination builds their story, but it is not one to share with others, as they will naturally make their own stories, I merely provide the character.’

​Angie describes herself as ‘an insatiable thief’, as she purloins from history, ancient and modern. She steals from all cultures and brings them together to create pieces which are deliberately ambiguous in date and origin whilst retaining a sense of the familiar. By using one material to portray another, she adds further to the contradiction.

​Angie studied at Wimbledon School of Art as a mature student and has always preferred to work figuratively. She likes to work predominantly in clay and other malleable materials as it gives her greater control. She casts her own work as limited editions in bronze or resins.

Jackie paints large canvasses using nature and landscape as a source of inspiration for her work. She works intuitively, slowly building up layers and allowing the painting to develop and change as it progresses. Often using acrylic to start and introducing other media along the way, it is important to Jackie to work with an open mind and not to be afraid of taking risks. Jackie graduated from UCA Farnham in 2009 with a BA Hons degree in Fine Art and works from her garden studio in Farnham.

Surrey based and with a background in model and prop making for TV and films during the 90s, Graeme is also an accomplished sculptor. As he says,

‘The majority of my finishes are in bronze and iron. I love myth and folklore, woodland and mysterious surroundings. My figurative work is sculpted in clay, wax and fibreglass. I like realism and working at life-size. I want my sculptures to tell a story with movement and mood.’

Kate is a professional sculptor who works with a diverse range of materials and techniques; steel, bronze, plastics, clay, welding, carving, modelling and casting. Kate is interested in shared human concerns which she approaches both abstractly and figuratively stating that both treatments mirror and feed each other. Commissioned to create a number of large scale public works, Kate has won awards and exhibited widely. She has recently completed a design commission in collaboration with prominent London fashion brand Lisou. She says, ‘Contemplative figurative art, more than ever, resonates today in our complex, noisy, world.’

American documentary photographer, Elliott Erwitt, once stated ‘Photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place’, and this is very much true of Jon’s approach as he challenges himself to find the hidden beauty in scenes that would otherwise go unnoticed. He is inspired by the structure of architecture and the chaos that mankind creates when interfacing with it.

Based in Guildford, Jon has exhibited across the UK and had his work selected from over 16,000 entries to be included in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 2019, selling the piece during the pre-exhibition viewing.

Sara is an internationally recognized sculptor, winner of a Henry Moore Foundation Scholarship, a graduate of the Bath Academy of Art, and winner of The President’s Commendation Medal for Sculpture at the XIVth Florence Biennale in October 2023.

Sara is known for her witty and glamorous ladies. They take a lighthearted view of society, exploring how in our image conscious world, we wear sunglasses, go bare footed, teeter on impossible heels, and carry expensive handbags all for others to take note of. Sara’s leggy ladies are to be found in galleries and garden exhibitions in the United Kingdom and in private collections around the world.

A former art teacher, Jo trained at Winchester School of Art and Kingston University and now paints full-time from her home near Woking. She has been shortlisted for several prizes including BBC Wildlife Artist of the Year, Surrey Artist of the Year and The British Art Prize no less than four times. Jo’s inspiration is varied, from wildlife to seascapes, with a particular passion for painting the city and its inhabitants. Jo’s works are bright and contemporary, designed to draw the viewer in and engage with the stories they tell. Jo has mastered the art of acrylic, believing it is well suited to her clean style of painting.

Julia Webster has been a professional designer, maker and teacher since 1983. She currently specialises in unique glass sculpture.

​She is inspired by numerous sources that include the natural world with its wealth of brilliant colour and pattern, dramatic elements of form in the landscape, movement and the subtle play of light reflected on water.

​Julia founded Glasszoo Ltd in 2006 and has produced many commissioned, bespoke glass art works for the Super-yacht Interior Industry, private clients worldwide and numerous exhibitions in the UK and abroad.

​She was awarded a Master of Arts - Distinction in 2013 from University for the Creative Arts.

25 years ago, Dan picked up his first camera and he hasn’t seen the world in quite the same way since. He now spends a large proportion of his life underwater, buried in foliage, or on a windswept mountainside searching for gripping compositions of the incredible world we live in. Dan enjoys bringing his audience face to face with subjects ranging from dramatic landscapes to the unique personality of miniscule wildlife. He cares deeply for the environment and conservation. His award-winning imagery is regularly used by the BBC as well as numerous underwater publications and conservation initiatives worldwide. He currently shoots with a Canon DSLR camera and an array of equipment that he promises himself one day he will scale down.

Having created props for the musical ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ and the English National Opera, Jonathan sculpted for models and effects in TV and film. In 2003 he began creating his own work, thus turning his passion into a career. All aspects of the natural world inspire Jonathan. Working in clay, he enjoys the challenge of creating from both the real and imagined. Through his close observation and manipulation of materials, Jonathan creates detail and texture or surface bas-relief on his sculptures, which are hand finished and painted to accentuate the relief. Jonathan’s sculpture now has many collectors, both in the UK and Internationally.

Local artist, Sophie is a contemporary landscape artist specializing in acrylics and metal leaf. She uses sweeping brushstrokes interlaced with illuminated metallics to capture the transitory nature of the near and far landscapes that move her. Sophie loves the romantic and gothic and that is echoed in the tumultuous emotive vistas she paints. A creative background in interior design helps to ground intuitive brushstrokes with an in-depth understanding of form, colour and proportion, creating expressive, contemporary pieces. Sophie lives and paints from her home studio near Haslemere and exhibits regularly while also painting to commission.

‘My favourite medium is paper, and I am known for my representational collages, fashioned from a fusion of recycled magazines, tickets, maps, recipes, labels, old photographs, poems, handwritten notes and doodles. Each piece is unique and has a story to tell - a narrative woven into the artwork from snippets of literature and images. I treat the printed colours like tubes of pigment, blending them to create the final composition.

‘I have just completed eight years as a travelling artist. My ideas come mainly from the people, landscapes, and wildlife I have encountered in faraway places. I have spent many hours underwater - scuba and free diving. This colourful world greatly aids my imagination. My clients include Formula 1, The Natural History Museum of London, EMI, and UK sports personalities.’

‘My work is concerned with the human form and its relationships with and comparisons to landscape and environment. My sculptures are ambiguous, self-contained characters – quiet, contemplative, serene, with heads bowed or skyward looking. I have exhibited my sculptures in Chichester Cathedral, the Bishop’s Palace Gardens at Wells, View Gallery Bristol, The Sculpture Show, Artspace, Cube Gallery Bristol, The Life Building City of London, Chapel Row Gallery Bath, and many more. My sculpture is in private collections in this country, Australia, USA and Denmark.’

Eric travels widely in Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, providing inspiration for his work which is derived from natural forms and textures. Eric works in clay and casts in bronze resin. His work is found in public and private collections around the UK and Europe.

Dorking sculptor, Jennie, started working with clay from an early age, mostly hand-building pots, but later in her teens working on the potter’s wheel. It was not until she retired from teaching that she decided to take up sculpture. Her motivation comes from numerous sources, largely from a love of animals, but also from a fascination with movement, posture and line in the human form. She aims to capture a moment that expresses the character, spirit and vitality of her subject. Jennie casts her own work using bronze, marble and iron resin and is a member of Surrey Sculpture Society.

Mehran Ghahari is an internationally exhibited artist, working across a range of mediums and styles, with a particular focus for the last 12 years on sculpting. Born into a world of art, she has honed her talent to produce a high number of figurative and increasingly abstract pieces, which includes a permanent bust at the University of Oxford. Her work displays the unification of the rich culture of her Persian heritage and the more abstract and imaginative world of Europe in the 21st century.

Jane is a materials-led artist who works predominantly with found objects & glass shards in a unique way. Pieces are often constructed within precise steel frameworks, but more recently Jane has been using cold cast resins to create distinctive frames, containing fragments of nature. The glass shards are all hand cut by Jane keeping the edge raw, exploiting its jagged beauty, whilst at the same time refracting the available light. The aesthetic is in the merging of the familiar alongside the unexpected, perhaps a reflection on the world of our time.

'Primarily inspired by a passion for dancing, and ballet in particular, in my figurative sculpture I’m driven to capture the liberating and almost meditative experience of being completely absorbed in the moment. Finding and celebrating inner peace became important to me when I stopped dancing; I hope the simple organic curves and peaceful nature of my sculptures will offer the viewer a sense of perspective, and serve as a reminder to appreciate and revel in the wonderful world around them.' Laura Jane's collection of elegant contemporary bronze and stone sculptures ranges from small tabletop to impressive life size pieces for the garden.

Allan trained in graphic and commercial art, entering the world of sculpture full time after a career in construction. His latest collection reflects human expression observing activities of the everyday. Adding humour and exaggerated drama brings his figures to life as they sit above the garden plants keeping a watchful eye over all things that grow.

From his studio in Sussex Allan creates sculpture in a range of media. The final piece comprises several smaller elements to form the overall picture. His work is exhibited with the Royal Horticultural Society, National Trust and The Crown Estate.

Jeremy grew up in the beautiful landscapes of Shropshire and North Wales where he was instilled with a love for nature. Woking as a sculptor for over 20 years, he creates contemporary, figuratively based sculptures, that manifest the human spirit with lightness and grace. There is an ephemeral quality to his work, a poetic sense of reflection. His figures are often reaching out beyond themselves, connecting to nature, to spirit, to the sky. They invite us into a world of enchantment, reminding us of the wonder and mystery of life. Mostly self-taught, his creative practice is grounded in his exploration of meditation.

Jeremy works in clay and plaster, which is then cast in limited editions of bronze, bronze resin or iron resin. His sculptures are exhibited nationally and internationally and are in private collections in the UK and around the world.

Lou runs ‘The Creative Studio’ which showcases her portfolio of sculptures and specialist bespoke, conservation framing. She is passionate about nature, taking inspiration from the stunning natural world around us. Her work is often full of intricate detail and precise forms, replicating the myriad textures, shapes and contours of local flora and fauna. She says, ‘I’m blessed living in the New Forest with all the stunning landscapes, beautiful animals and diverse plant-life - it’s a true sanctuary and is where my inner-sunshine comes from. I try to create sculptures that people can relate to or that have a story behind them – it’s important for me that there’s some kind of connection between myself and the viewer.’

Ptolemy Elrington has been working as a self-employed professional sculptor since 2002. He works with recycled materials incorporating a regenerative eco aware theme in his work.

Ptolemy makes what he calls ‘Hubcap creatures’, made entirely from recycled and upcycled materials. All the hubcaps are found, usually on the side of the road and therefore bear the scars of their previous lives in the form of scratches and abrasions. These marks add texture and history to the creatures they decorate.

Clients include R.S.P.B., The Environment Agency, Thames Barrier, Ronseal, Kenwood, Ecover, East Coast Trains and both Essex and Brighton County Councils. His work has been exhibited in numerous venues in London and the south-east and has travelled to exhibitions in Ireland, Greece, Spain and Russia. Ptolemy is currently working on several private commissions as well as continuing to develop his own work.

Initially inspired by the old masters and the French animalier, French artist, Marie Ackers has gone beyond realism and tradition to capture a contemporary interpretation of animals. In her work, Marie deconstructs the movements, strips down to pure lines, simplifies the shapes and identifies the dynamic and the rhythms of the lines to produce contemporary and distinctively elegant sculptures inextricably associated with, but yet completely independent of reality.

Helen has been a mixed media glass artist for over 18 years. She is self-taught and enjoys the freedom of exploration with no boundaries. She combines her love of nature with a fascination for found objects, especially vintage clock faces, copper pipe, and old tools. She creates almost 3D illusions in some of her work by painting on many glass layers which are then fused together into one solid piece of glass.

​Helen has written tutorials for U.S. Glass Patterns Magazine and been featured in Brides Magazine. This year her work was chosen to be printed onto T Shirts in America to raise money for a sponsorship for a college art placement. Helen also does the window dressing for All Our Own Crafts, a shop dedicated to selling a mix of artists’ work in Hampshire.

Juliet is a Hampshire-based artist. Her natural intuition when working with shape and form was given a strong technical basis by studies in Art and Design. She studied sculpture for several years under internationally renowned sculptor, Les Johnson, and now works mainly in clay, producing original sculptures in limited editions. From art deco style figures to realistic animal studies these can be cast in foundry bronze or in resin. Her sculptures vary from small intimate pieces to larger more powerful works.

Jo studied sculpture at Goldsmiths College under Ivor Roberts-Jones and Michael Kenney and then attended Reading University for a postgraduate teaching year. Her work is concerned with the human form and its relationship with and comparisons to landscape and the environment. Her sculptures are ambiguous, self-contained characters – quiet, contemplative and serene with heads bowed or skyward looking – together yet apart.

Jo’s sculpture is held in private collections in the UK, Australia, USA and Denmark and also includes some commissioned portraits.

Suzie’s animal sculptures have gained great acclaim over the last 35 years and she now has a loyal following both in the UK and abroad. Her work reflects her love of animals and her fascination with their character and form. She often produces work to aid animal charities close to her heart and this has taken her to the Animals Asia bear sanctuaries in China and Vietnam as well as the Turgwe Hippo Trust in Zimbabwe. Her initial work is in clay and her originals can then be cast in bronze resin and/or foundry bronze. All of her work is suitable for the home or garden.

Rachael is a sculptor working mainly in metal. She makes both abstract and figurative pieces, often based on organic and animal forms. Her work typically evokes a strong sense of movement and her recent work is interested in the dynamic energy created between a musician and her instrument.

She has exhibited her work at the Morley Gallery, London and Cambourne House in Cambridgeshire.

‘I’m a fine art realist sculptor, primarily working in clay which is then moulded and cast either in resin or bronze. I’ve always had a creative drive but only came to sculpting in recent years. I went on to study anatomy and now work from accurate skull and skeletal dimensions, using hundreds of photos and the physical subjects themselves where I can.

‘I’m particularly inspired by capturing both the mood and form of my subjects. I always try to give the viewer a sense of an active ‘presence’. I find that a pose can impart so much meaning and can totally change the way that we respond emotionally to a sculpture. Conservation is something that I feel passionately about so where I can, I pledge to donate a proportion of the sales of my sculptures to the WWF.’

Kent-based artist, Kate continues to explore the vivacity, power and movement of horses through the detailed study of the equine form and captures their essence and physicality in each sculpture.
The creation of each horse sculpture comes from the detailed study of the subject and the passion to explore the subject’s possibilities, the desire to communicate the reality of the horse’s physique and an exploration of the horse’s anatomy.

"… but if you teach your horse to go with a light hand on the bit, and yet to hold his head well up and to arch his neck, you will be making him do just what the animal himself glories and delights in."
Xenophon, The Art of Horsemanship.

Following a degree course in Graphic Design at Gloucester College of Art, Maria worked as a visualiser in an advertising agency, but now finds herself painting and illustrating.

​She is inspired by colour and has always had a love of nature and flowers. The inspiration for her work comes mostly from her garden, nature reserves and travel.

​Maria’s painting style has evolved, using vivid colouring techniques and a free, semi abstract style. She uses acrylic paints and sometimes combines them with ink and pen on paper, board or canvas. The balance between colour and line works well; the line doesn’t overwhelm but adds another dimension to her paintings.