Sculpture at Doddington 2022

Lincolnshire artists lead summer sculpture showcase at Doddington Hall

‘The most diverse collection ever hosted at Doddington Hall & Gardens’

Doddington Hall & Gardens’ eagerly awaited sculpture showcase returns with creations from national and international artists.

Led by a charge of Lincolnshire-based sculptors, as well as “Britain’s greatest living stone sculptor” Emily Young, the exhibition will showcase 340 works of art from 60 national and international sculptors throughout the picturesque gardens and stable yard. 

While each sculpture is distinctly different, they are all united by the core theme of ‘In beauty may I walk’ – inspired by the traditional Navajo Indian prayer. With the mellow red brick Elizabethan hall as a spectacular backdrop, guests are invited to walk in the beauty of Doddington Hall’s walled gardens and romantic wild grounds to take in the varied pieces. 

Every sculpture is available for purchase and there’s something for everyone, with the pieces ranging from £55 through to £350,000.

Claire Birch, who lives at the hall with her husband James, said:

“After our best-ever attended sculpture showcase in 2020, we’re delighted to welcome you to our sixth ‘Sculpture at Doddington’ exhibition.

“We’ve retained the new visitor route through the gardens that we introduced in 2020 to ensure that visitors see everything and to showcase the breadth of work on display.

“We hope that you’ll admire the significant repairs to the hall and garden walls that we have carried out since the last exhibition. We’ll also be placing an especially significant sculpture in our purpose-built Wagon Shed close to the Stable Yard Gallery: Brian Taylor’s life-size Burano Horse. The shed is home to our new permanent collection of farm wagons, which we encourage you to visit.”

With over 40 of the sculptors being entirely new to Doddington, the carefully selected domestic and overseas sculptors have been chosen to complement each area of the grounds and to provide an experience that suits all tastes, styles and budgets. 

Curated by David Waghorne and Kate McGovern, the exhibit will showcase incredible art led by local artists Michael ThackerTeresa WellsJames Sutton, Daniel Rollitt, Michael Scrimshaw, Ian Gill and Robert Fogell. 

Co-curator David Waghorne said: “This is the most diverse collection of art we’ve ever hosted at Doddington Hall & Gardens. The range of styles, materials and price points really does mean that there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

“The theme ‘In beauty may I walk’ is an almost metaphysical experience and it’s especially relevant as visitors will be wandering around the grounds and quite literally surrounded by beauty at every turn – both courtesy of the hall and its expansive gardens and the carefully curated sculptures from world-class artists. 

“Doddington Hall is a special place that is steeped in history and I can’t think of a more immersive backdrop for this incredible breadth of sculptures from renowned and emerging artists.”

Local artists 

Former stone carver and mason at Lincoln Cathedral, Michael Thacker creates distinctive abstract sculptures made from local limestone and embellished with 24-carat gold leaf to dramatically accentuate light.After 15 years working on Lincoln’s iconic cathedral, Michael now works as a full-time sculptor and has been featured in exhibitions across the UK, including the Chelsea Flower Show, the London Art Fair, and City Art House Lincoln.

Teresa Wells is an award-winning figurative sculptor who works with bronze and steel. Her work has been described as “wonderfully detailed” by The Londonist’s Tabish Khan, juxtaposing strong physiques set in precarious poses to emphasise their inherent fragility. 

James Sutton is an artist, sculptor, and designer with a studio based in Gainsborough. As a University of Lincoln graduate, he has strong ties to the local area and creates figurative and abstract works in stone, metal and bronze.

Daniel Rollitt is a local artist working with glass and ceramic, specialising in creating kiln-formed sculptural, architectural, and site-specific artwork. He works from his studio near Lincoln and, by his own admittance, is fascinated by the intangible, choosing to work with glass primarily because of its unique optics and ability to transmit light. 

Michael Scrimshaw creates grand, evocative sculptures which emphasise scale and the nature of discovery. Some of his most well-known pieces include The Big Man, The Flying Machine (based on the sketches by Leonardo DaVinci) and The Wintringham Lion. 

Ian Gill is an award-winning metal sculptor who has been designing and creating contemporary works of art for almost two decades. He uses a combination of traditional blacksmithing and modern industrial techniques, working with heavy gauge materials that can be hot forged, to craft work which highlights natural organic forms but with an industrial twist.

Robert Fogell is a Stamford-based artist who is an avid painter and sculptor, working primarily with bronze and stone. His work explores organic elements and geometric structures. 

Featured artists

Featured artists in the showcase include “Britain’s greatest living stone sculptor” Emily Young. She creates powerful monolithic pieces from her studios in Italy and Dorset, showcasing them in her new London showroom. Her sculptures have previously been exhibited at The Victoria and Albert Museum in London, The Getty in California, The Whitworth in Manchester, The Imperial War Museum in London and The Meijer Sculpture Gardens in Grand Rapids.

Other featured artists include the Iranian sculptor Masoud Akhavanjam, whose polished steel bull sculpture is the most expensive item in the show’s catalogue, as well as world-renowned contemporary animal sculptor Kendra Haste from Buntingford, UK. Most well-known for the 2010 Historic Royal Palaces commission ‘Royal Beasts’, she crafted thirteen sculptures for the Tower of London from galvanised wire which are now a permanent installation on the world heritage site.

Also featured is work by the late Brian Taylor, emerging artist Jane Fremantle from near Chichester, London’s Emma ElliotAndrew Lee from Weybridge, Sandra Bell from Northern Ireland, Steve Bicknell from West Sussex, Gloucester’s Deborah Harrison, and Leeds-based artist David Watkinson with his mesmerising kinetic sculptures, inspired by the organic form and movement of nature.

Sculpture at Doddington 2022 takes place from Saturday 16th July until Sunday 11th September and will be open daily from 10am – 4pm, with last entry at 3pm. There is no extra cost for the exhibition, with standard garden admission charges applying at just £8.50 for adults, £4.50 for children, or £22 for a family ticket.  Admission is free for Doddington ‘Season Ticket’ holders. Historic Houses, RHS and Art Fund Members benefit from 20% off entry.  Guests will be able to purchase a detailed Sculpture catalogue for a small additional charge.

The Elizabethan manor house is open Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and Bank Holiday Monday by timed entry. 

Companies sponsoring Sculpture at Doddington include lead sponsor Brewin Dolphin, supported by Roythornes SolicitorsBrown & Co and MKM Building Supplies.

Follow Doddington Hall & Gardens on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for the latest updates and behind-the-scenes snapshots. Use the hashtag #SculptureAtDoddington on social media to share your photos of the exhibition.

For more information and to book tickets, visit: sculpturedoddingtonhall.com

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