Students on the first year of the sculpture pathway undertake a series of projects which introduce them to a diverse range of approaches to sculpture, encompassing the use of sculptural techniques, processes and materials (including casting, metal, wood and stone carving).

Initially, these projects take the human body as a starting point; in the 'body book' project, students gather visual research on how the human body has been represented in art, science and culture, and develop a work that reflects this, while in the ‘Figure and Space’ project they work directly from the figure to make a work that represents the structure of the human form. As the year progresses, other projects take place that explore different approaches to the making of sculpture; the ‘Art Medal’ project involves the making of a small, detailed object in bronze, while the ‘Found Objects and Readymades’ project explores the relationship between unique, crafted objects and their mass-produced equivalents.

After the projects end (during the summer term), students start to identify their own area of creative practice, with a view to developing this in their second year. During the third year, students continue to develop their own self-defined projects, with a view to producing a body of work in their third year that will be shown in the final degree exhibition.

Studio teaching is delivered at all levels of the programme by tutors who all work as practising artists, and whose work reflects the diversity of contemporary sculptural practices. Forms of teaching include one to one and group tutorials, study visits to galleries and museums, and artist’s talks.

Workshop support and technical guidance is provided by technical support staff- the school’s technical facilities cover the key areas that relate to the making and fabrication of sculpture, including wood, metal and glass work, casting, basic foundry techniques, and stone carving.

Subject Leader: Andrew Bannister MA (Chelsea)

Teaching Staff: Elaine Wilson, John Clayman, Felicity Powell, Amikam Toren, Kim Amis

Technical Support Staff: David Snoo Wilson, Irene Gunston

Visiting tutors have included: David Cheeseman, Jane Simpson, Marion Coutts, John Wigley, Tom Godfrey, Kathy McCarthy, Judith Dean, Jane Simpson, Ocean Mims, Sam Plagerson, Frances Richardson, Francoise Dupre, Jefford Horrigan