Althea Wynne trained first at Farnham then at Hammersmith before
attending The Royal College of Art from which she holds her degree.
She is a fellow of the Royal Society of British Sculptors.
"My work is deeply influenced by my love of early classical
sculpture, the calm poise and harmony of which i seek to emulate.
The Greeks also had an understanding of animals from which i draw
some of my inspiration, and my equestrian subjects owe much to my
love of riding."
"I am sure that most people are looking for a peaceful and relaxing
ambience in their gardens, and anything challenging or aggressive
is entirely out of place though this is far from saying that sculpture
should be confined to contemplative female figures clutching draperies
in victorian modesty," she says. Although classical figures can
be bought, originals attract astronomical prices whilst cast reproductions
are commonplace. Many people, not least Sir Roy Strong, have deplored
the lack of good garden sculpture in the idiom of the present day
; Althea seeks to satisfy this need.
"Certainly i am influenced by the classical tradition, as are
most trained artists. I am particularly fond of the Etruscans who,
though comparatively crude in their modelling have a simple directness
and a real sense of happiness about their work.
Some of my pieces are based on traditional stories such as Adam and
Eve or Leda and the Swan, The Creation or The Flood, otherwise they
are female figures, birds or animals with a figurative treatment,
often lifesize or larger."
Recently Althea has produced a variety of sculpture involving water,
a genre in which she is particularly interested. The waterworks usually
require some practical ingenuity, which presents a challenge to her
husband, an engineer. "Any garden is enhanced by moving water
water even if only a trickle, and it is the sound as much as the sight
which is attractive."
| 1959 |
Commissioned by London County Council: SWIMMERS,
a group of ciment-fondu, one and a half times lifesize for a London
school. |
| 1960 |
Winner of open competition to design the TOPHAM TROPHY
for a race at Aintree. Cast in silver |
| 1988 |
Commissioned by London Borough of Hounslow : DOVES RISING,
cast in white ciment-fondu to be the centrepiece for the fountain
in the Peace Park. |
| 1989 |
Commissioned by the Prudential property Management:
three horses one and a half times lifesie, cast in bronze for
MINSTER COURT, then the largest office development in the city
of London. Click HERE
to view |
| 1991 |
Commissioned b London Docklands Development Corporation
: FAMILY OF GOATS, a community sculpture at Rotherhithe. Click
HERE
to view |
| 1993 |
Commissioned by Salisbury Health Authority : H FOR HOSPITAL,
a 6 tonne trilithon of Chilmark stone to mark the entrance to
a new hospital. Click HERE
to view |
| 1994 |
Commissioned by Cunard Steamship Company : WHITE HORSES,
cast fourfold in aluminium resin for the centrepiece of the Caronia
restaurant in the cruise ship Queen Elizabeth ll. Click
HERE to view |
| 1995 |
Commissioned by Walsall Health Authority : THE FAMILY,
a lifesize group in high-fired clay flame-sprayed in bronze for
a new maternity hospital. Click HERE
to view |
| 1999 |
Commissioned by LendLease Corporation : CHALK COLUMNS,
a nine metre high triple obelisk in hard plaster for Bluewater
Park. Click
HERE to view |
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