Phone: 0044 1425 474736

Fax 0044 1425 474736

E-mail: info@rebeccanewnham.co.uk

For the last 17 years I have been steadily producing sculpture both to commission and for exhibition. The commissions rise from recommendation, from the bodies of work produced for exhibition and from competitions.

 

My current work concerns Photosynthesis, Energy and Carbon, and results from collaboration with the Hillier Gardens, who offered me access to their resources. They have a world famous collection of oaks as well as extensive, well managed gardens. Research at the Hillier library, herbarium and from interviews with the botanists has led to sculptures for an exhibition which opens on 24^th May.  Previous bodies of work have explored botanical life cycles; seeds, pollen, fruit and growth. I have interests in the chemical makeup of living things, what molecules or chains of molecules look like under a microscope. Each sculpture celebrates human life. The botanical works are a metaphor for human life, exploring potential, life cycles and personal growth.

 

It is intriguing that a cross section through a human chromosome is a daisy shape. Living things have infinite positive cross over associations. I explore them.

 

Depending upon the project, my sculpture often has a reinforcing steel structure, carved Styrofoam or concrete, fibreglass and a glass skin. Currently the lines of glass which cover the forms have gaps filled with a grout; these gaps are as important as the spaces which the glass occupies. Currently I take clear glass and fire a range of minerals onto the surface, in a kiln, which has a metallic appearance such as the many colours of bronze.  I work with an assistant and also have administration support. I employ metal fabricators for the steel structures and foundations when applicable and fibreglass laminators. I am in partnership with David Bird, who is a photographer.

 

I enjoy working on a grand scale; my smaller works are both finished pieces and models for future works.

 

 

Selected Commissioned Projects

 

2007           Elstone Hayes commissioned 7 sculptures for Cunard’s new Queen Victoria Cruise ship

2007          Two groups of sculpture ‘Taxus’ and ‘DNA Seedlings’, for private gardens, Cambridge

2007          Lotos sculpture for home and hotel in Italy.

2007          Two sculptures, ‘Kalyptos’, for a roof terrace at London’s Barbican.

2006          Museumaker, an Arts Council project competition. Commissioned to make a 1m tall Lotus sculpture for New Walk Museum, Leicester. Reflects cultural and natural aspects of the collections.

2006          Museumaker project competition. Seedling sculptures each 2m tall for the gardens of 78 Derngate, Northampton, the Charles Rennie Mackintosh museum. Inspired by Mackintosh’s stylised trees. 

2005          Elstone Hayes commissioned 5 sculptures: Bud 2, a pair of Reed sculptures, and a pair of Nautilus sculptures, for 2 cruise ships.  Each between 600mm and 1.6m tall       

2004           Gresham Palace, Budapest. Four Seasons. 16 mosaic tree planters each 1.1m diameter, for Four Seasons Hotels. Commissioned by Richmond International. Designs that worked with a lovingly restored Secessionist interior.

2003           4m wall panel for Dalkeith, Bournemouth. Imagery inspired by Merton Russell-Coates.

2002           Five 3m long wall panels illustrating botanical imagery inspired by writers connected to Leatherhead, Surrey

2000           Wall Mosaic for Sandy Lane Hotel, Barbados. Commissioned by Richmond International. Abstract inlayed lines of blue glass mosaic, 50m long.

2000           ‘Lepidotes Mantelli’. Relief floor mosaic, 4m diameter, located at Sandown, Isle of White. Commissioned by Southern Water. Glass and stone mosaic of previously local prehistoric fish. Designed in consultation with local residents and councillors, local school children contributed to the making.

2000           Exterior wall mosaics for Hindu Centre in Dudley. Commissioned by Broadfield house Glass Museum as a Millennium Project.

 

Pre 2000 I worked on many commissions including sculptures for 6 cruise ships, the largest of which is 30m long. I also designed a range of mirrors and furniture which retailed from the Conran Shop, Heals and John Lewis. Later the furniture became bespoke and we worked with specifiers and Interior Design Companies.

 

Selected Exhibitions

2008           Photosynthesis. Hillier Gardens. Body of work resulting from collaboration with the gardens.

2008, 07, 06, 05     Artdejardin, Rutland, sculpture show featuring Rebecca’s sculpture.

2007           Hillier Gardens, Southampton. Art in the Garden. Group sculpture show.

2007           Light and Significant Numbers. Highcliffe castle, Christchurch, Dorset. Work in castle grounds and old library. Also David Bird’s photographs of my sculpture in significant sea and landscape

2006           Collect V&A London

2005          Chelsea Flower Show, Show garden sculptures for WRAP garden designed by Chris Beardshaw.

2005          Atrium Gallery, Bournemouth. ‘New Works by Rebecca Newnham’

2005, 04, 03           Art loan. Bournemouth University.

2002           ‘Art in the Garden’. Sir Harold Hillier Arboretum, Romsey.

 

International Art fairs in London, New York and Toronto, Chelsea Flower show, Design Resolutions at The Royal Festival Hall, Decorex, 100%Design, Decorative Arts Today at Bonham’s.

 

I have works in the collections of three museums and many private collections. My work has been selected for The New Glass Review, Corning Glass Museum New York, for 3 consecutive years.

 

 

Project direction

 

                    2006-07      Art Consultant for Northampton Museum ‘Hands on History’ project, where 5 artists are commissioned to                    make a vessel to contain artefacts from the collections for public loan.

2006-07      User group representative on the board at Artsway; a contempory art gallery in the New Forest.

2007           Crafts Council Selection Committee specialist advisor.

 

Talks

2007           Eden Project, Contempory Glass Society

2007           Society of Modern Mosaicists, London    

2007           Hillier Gardens, Southampton.

2007           Highlife Castle, Christchurch. To accompany exhibition.

2006           Nottingham Play house, Arts Council

                   

Galleries

                    Wimbledon Fine Art, London and Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden, Surrey.

 

Educ            1991           Royal College of Art, MA (RCA) Glass.

                    1985-88      Multi-disciplinary Design, BA (Hons)      

                   

To contact us:

Rebecca Newnham