David Williams-Ellis

David Williams-Ellis (born 1959) is a British figurative sculptor whose primary subject matter is the human figure.[1]

David Williams-Ellis

Early life and education

Williams-Ellis was born in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. His great uncle was Clough Williams-Ellis. Clough Williams-Ellis' daughter, Susan Williams-Ellis was a pottery designer, best known for co-founding Portmeirion Pottery.

Williams-Ellis was educated at Stowe School, Buckinghamshire.[2]

On leaving school, in 1977, Nerina Simi taught him to observe the details within a face, the way a person’s clothes hung and the details within buildings.[3]

Career

In 1978 he received the Elizabeth T. Greenshield Foundation Award and he was able to work and study with the marble craftsmen of Carrara in Pietrasanta.[4] He was heavily influenced by the early and high Renaissance and Italian art in general, as well as the architecture and visual excitement of Italy. In 1981 he returned to London to attend the Sir John Cass School of Art, Architecture and Design.[5]

In 1993 Williams-Ellis was elected as a member of the Royal Cambrian Academy of Art.[6]

Williams-Ellis’ most recent exhibition, entitled Elemental, was held at the Portland Gallery in December 2014.[4][7]

Notable public commissions

The Normandy Memorial Trust

Williams-Ellis has been commissioned by the Normandy Memorial Trust to create the D-Day sculpture to commemorate the 22,000 British soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen who died during the landings and thereafter. It will be one of the centre-pieces of the memorial park’s official inauguration and will occupy a position on the forecourt of the memorial, designed by architect Liam O’Connor, against the backdrop of Gold Beach. The sculpture will be unveiled in 2019 to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the landings. [8]

Aberdeen Fishing Memorial

Williams-Ellis was selected by Aberdeen City Council to create a sculpture to commemorate and celebrate all the men and women who have served in the city’s fishing industry.[9] It consists of two life-size sculptures, a fisherwoman and a fisherman, that stand outside the Aberdeen Maritime Museum. It was unveiled on 27th June 2018. [10]

Saving Eden's Salmon

In 2016 Williams-Ellis was commissioned by the Eden Rivers Trust to sculpt two, over life-size, bronzes of a cock and hen salmon. These were to be sold by the trust in order to raise money to support their campaign and fundraising initiatives to save the wild salmon and stop their decline, in both the River Eden and other rivers across Britain.[11]

Lawrence of Arabia

In 2013 Williams-Ellis was commissioned to sculpt an over life size bronze of T. E. Lawrence to commemorate the 80th anniversary of his death to be displayed at Snowdon Lodge,[12] Lawrence’s birthplace.[13]

Kyffin Williams

Commissioned by Mary Yapp of the Albany Gallery, Kyffin Williams’s agent in Wales, an over life size bronze was designed for Oriel Ynys Môn, where the Kyffin Williams Collection is housed.[14]

Ray Gravell

Commissioned in 2008 the 10-ton statue now stands outside the south stand of the Parc y Scarlets.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "Himalayan Garden and Sculpture Park at The Hutts, Grewelthorpe". York Press.
  2. ↑ "OS Sculptor David Williams-Ellis". The Corinthian Online.
  3. ↑ "I giganti di David Williams-Ellis hanno un'anima italiana". Il Sole 24 Ore.
  4. 1 2 "Sculptor David Williams-Ellis on studying in Italy and why he never eats in restaurants". The Daily Telegraph. 28 November 2014.
  5. ↑ "Raising funds for a larger-than-life a large statue of Sir Kyffin Williams at his local gallery". Wales Online. 31 May 2012.
  6. ↑ "Members". Royal Cambrian Academy.
  7. ↑ "Sinuous sculpture by David Williams-Ellis". Financial Times. 4 February 2015.
  8. ↑ http://www.normandymemorialtrust.org/blog/news/british-normandy-memorial-design-revealed/
  9. ↑ https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/news/local/statue-commemorating-fishing-heritage-will-be-unveiled-in-city-next-week/
  10. ↑ https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen/1508621/permanent-fishing-memorial-unveiled-in-aberdeen/
  11. ↑ "Art Helping Life". Trout And Salmon.
  12. ↑ "Village marks death of TE Lawrence". BBC News. 19 May 2015.
  13. ↑ Crump, Eryl (30 April 2015). "North Wales village set to mark 80th anniversary of death of Lawrence of Arabia". WalesOnline.
  14. ↑ Crump, Eryl (29 June 2013). "Sir Kyffin Williams painting could go for as much as £50k". Daily Post.
  15. ↑ "Ray Gravell's family unveil statue in Llanelli". WalesOnline. 5 September 2009.
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