Christopher Marvell

Christopher Marvell is passionate about sculpture, and makes both large and small bronzes in editions of 5-7. He enjoys the physical work and atmosphere of the foundry, the process of working from drawings and macquettes means that he is never quite sure how the finished piece will look.

His subjects include figures, heads and various animals and birds. The sculptures present themselves as seemingly blunt facts, but on deeper reflection they initiate a subtle dialogue that encourages the viewer to consider not only the relationship between human and animal, but also between the human/animal archetype and the human/animal condition itself.

Somehow, his animals do not contain individual character, but rather they suggest the character of their species as distilled through human convention and consciousness.

His Sea Dog, Cat and Sheep, for example, do not remind one of, say, Fido, Felix or Flossie, they ask us to re-think our concepts of dog, cat and sheep in their own generic terms.

Christopher Marvell says "Walking daily through the landscapes around the studios gives a constant focus for what I am trying to make. My sculptures have a quiet english based quality of man and nature in the way that we hear countryside through Britton or Vaughan Williams.

It is the business of observing acutely and recording – of searching for the line and shape and images. You have to make art from what you know about – a celebration of locality"

Jeremy Musson, architectural historian, writer, consultant, and lecturer, said of Marvell's sculpture "Conceived through drawing, expressed initially in maquette, fixed in plaster and fully realised in bronze, the sculpture of Christopher Marvell is sparing in detail but fulsome in association. The solid, substantial, patinated human and animal subjects that constitute the larger part of his output manage to achieve an irresistible balance between humour and pathos, ugliness and beauty, strength and weakness, past and present, and art and craft. Bringing to mind elements of the works of Marini, Giacometti, Miro and Moore, Christopher Marvell’s broadly representational sculpture is often charmingly quirky without ever being diminished by its idiosyncrasy."

Melanie Veasey, art historian and writer said "Capturing his patient observations of the natural world, Marvell’s works eliminates extraneous detail, whilst retaining familiar characteristics. His whimsical animals, birds, and figures are scaled for interiors and contemplative garden spaces.

Marvell’s craftsmanship renders the weight of bronze as light, contemporary and tactile, washed in warm opaque rose-beige or misted-grey patinas.

Soft silhouettes define the gentle curves of these minimalist sculptures, encouraging the gaze to travel across delicate surface indentations. Scratched and pitted as features, feathers and fur, the fine serrations maintain the simplicity of presentation.

Collectively, Marvell’s sculptures convey a sense of fanciful and playful intent."

Christopher studied at University of Newcastle Upon Tyne and currently lives in St Ives.

His sculptures are in public and private collections in the UK, USA, France Spain and Germany. He exhibits widely, mostly in St Ives and London, and sometimes with his wife, painter, Elaine Pamphilon.