In Conversation with... Stephen Page & Suzanne Lawrence ahead of their joint exhibitions
At Pinkfoot, we are passionate about the artists we represent and we believe their work deserves to be enjoyed and appreciated by as many people as possible.
Following on from the success of our previous 'In conversation with..." articles, we are excited to share with you TWO conversations, where we talk to Stephen Page and Suzanne Lawrence about their lives and work, ahead of their upcoming shows 'Entities' by Stephen Page, and 'The Shapes of Colours' by Suzanne Lawrence at Pinkfoot from 1st July 2022.
To kick things off, we start by chatting to Stephen about his upcoming bronze exhibition. Scroll further down to read our conversation with Suzanne.
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Stephen Page working in his studio, preparing one of his bronze casts.
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Talking to Stephen Page about his sculptures has not only been a pleasure, but a real insight into the thought process behind his work. At first glance, you may see his work as a playful take on the animal form, but there is something more behind the simplified representations of the creatures he creates. His inspirations span thousands of years from primitive cave painting to 21st century art, forming creative bookends centuries apart.
Stephen has spent decades perfecting his trade, originally studying 3D design in art college and making unique furniture out of old car parts, he has slowly been able to devote more time over the years to sculpture, although it hasn't always been a smooth process; "I quickly realised that 3D design wasn't something I wanted to do, as you have to spend a lot of time planning. Back then, I was too eager to get going, and wanted to spend my time making things rather than planning them. I decided that moving to a fine art course to concentrate on sculpture was the best option for me". Stephen went on to complete his Fine Art degree in Southampton, before moving to rural mid wales, where he now has his studio in the Tanat Valley.
Shortly after the birth of his second child, an opportunity arose at a foundry close by where Stephen lives, this was the turning point for him to fully immerse himself into bronze casting. He quickly fell in love with the process, learning a great amount and joining a small team of five. Two decades later, whilst creating his work in the depths of the first lockdown, he made the decision to go it alone and leave the now 50 person foundry, to devote 100% of his time to his own work. Ever since, he has been making up for lost time, and his upcoming exhibition is the product of this.
"During lockdown, I was able to spend more time doing what I love, and it was then that I realised that I was ready to finally devote all of my time to my work. It was a great feeling, as I have gathered many ideas and sketches over the years, which I now had the space to bring to life. Things which have started out as doodles, have now turned into sculptures, which I have gradually refined and developed over the past couple of years".
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Luna Limited Edition Bronze £5,000 Cone Bird Limited Edition Bronze £1,950
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Ibis, Limited Edition Bronze £975 Ox, Limited Edition Bronze £4,500
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Over Stephen's career as a sculptor, he has kept coming back to the animal form. He is inspired by how different cultures and generations represent animals in art, with the way they are perceived showing their individual connection to them.
"I am influenced by different artefacts from around the world, particularly Egyptian artefacts and cave paintings. The way that different cultures have represented animals over the years, shows what a strong connection we have always had to them. I hope to show this in my work, and play on the primitive forms which you can see in cave paintings".
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Oss, Limited Edition Bronze £6,000
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As well as Stephen's simple use of bold form, his colour also catches your eye. His colours are not generic, or even traditional of bronze sculpture, but thats what sets his work out from the rest.
When asked about his use of colour, Stephen explains "I don't feel as though the colours need to be representative of the animal, I like to get bolder as the editions go on, and evolve my ideas. I like how artists like Andy Warhol use bright colours in his work, and I try to experiment using different colours to see what works and what doesn't. For example, the Oss is a burnt red colour, as this is the pigment which was used in cave paintings of horses and cattle. I wanted to make that connection between the two by using colour".
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Dray, Limited Edition Bronze £4,750
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The beauty of capturing an animal in its rawest form, means that you are able to appreciate it without all of the excess information. The crucial point in Stephen's working process is when the time comes to abstract the shape and decide what to keep or leave out. Stephen is inspired by the simple works of Brancusi, and therefore has learnt to leave just enough information in there to suggest a recognisable shape.
With such little detail, Stephen is still able to tell a story through his sculptures. He talks about the meaning behind his 'Dray': "I am interested in how horses have been a key component in our lives for hundreds of years, and how this has dramatically reduce in modern times. Horses used to be strong working animals in agriculture, acting as a machine within the farm. That's why in my sculpture, I have made the horse's mane look mechanical, to symbolise what an important cog they used to play in our lives".
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Cadno, Limited Edition Bronze £3,000 Boar, Limited Edition Bronze £3,500
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Stephen continues to work now full time in his studio in the Tanet Valley, Wales, and like many sculptors, enjoys having a hands on roll throughout the whole process of his work. You can view a short film about Stephen's work made by his film maker daughter, Lowri, by clicking here.
We are very pleased to be able to showcase over 15 limited edition bronze sculptures in his upcoming exhibition 'Entities', which will feature some of his most recent works. You can view the entire exhibition online, as well as in the gallery from 1st July.
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Lockdown had a huge impact on our lives and the way we want to live going forward. It was a time to sit back and reflect, leading many of us to make big life changes. So during this time, Suzanne decided to push her painting in a different direction. With the easing of restrictions, she allowed herself to launch her creativity and zest for life to new heights, setting free her love of colour, shapes and of course, the Norfolk landscape. Her upcoming exhibition 'The Shape of Colour', is the accumulation of her new found freedom and passion for paint.
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Having originally trained in textiles, Suzanne has always had a passion for colours and pattern, so by continuing to learn and expand her skills within the creative industry, meant that she was able to begin a career as a professional artist. "I have always wanted to keep developing my skills, so I regularly go to paint with other artists and take courses to expand my knowledge. I have been lucky enough to train at Norwich City College, St Ives School of Art and take workshops with professional leading artists. I always want to push myself and learn new things."
This willingness to learn and push the boundaries has been a driving force behind her latest body of work. She explains how she tries to push herself out of her comfort zone; "Recently, I have given myself permission to have fun and experiment with being looser with my work. I have enjoyed experimenting with colour, playing with shapes, and having a dialogue with the landscape through my painting". Suzanne continues to strive and develop her work, with recently being selected for the New English Art Club, her work is becoming widely recognised.
Coming from a farming family meant that Suzanne has been able to spend time outdoors enjoying the landscape from an early age, and has enabled her to develop an ingrained sense of weather."My aim is to give the viewer a journey through the landscape with me, and experience all of the sights, smells and noises with me when I am out painting."
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Suzanne's exhibition promises to be a journey through the Norfolk landscape, by looking at her exhibition you will be treated to a feast for the eyes. Her work is a fantastic portrayal of a walk through the vast ranging Norfolk landscapes, from coastlines to woodlands, and from season to season, you will be fully emerged into Suzanne's view of Norfolk. It is clear to see that Suzanne has a passion for colour, and she talks about her predecessor's as inspiration for this; "I am drawn to using colour to show how I feel about the landscape. I look to Artist's such as Matisse, Barbara Rae and Lanyon as inspirations for my work, particularly their use of colour and pattern".
'The Shape of Colours' will be on show at Pinkfoot Gallery from 1st July, and is now available to view online. If you have any questions about her work, please get in touch.
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