For the last 17 years Rebecca has 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.

Current work concerns Photosynthesis, Energy and Carbon, and results from collaboration with the Hillier Gardens, who offered 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 and an exhibition.  Previous bodies of work have explored botanical life cycles; seeds, pollen, fruit and growth. Rebecca is interested in the chemical makeup of living things and the appearance of molecules or chains of molecules under a microscope. Rebecca’s sculpture celebrates human life. The botanical works are a metaphor for human life, exploring potential, life cycles and personal growth. Living things have infinite positive cross over associations and symbolism.

Depending upon the project, her 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 Rebecca takes clear glass and fires a range of minerals onto the surface, in a kiln, which has a metallic appearance such as the many colours of bronze.  Rebecca works with an assistant and has administration support. Metal fabricators construct the steel structures and foundations when applicable and fibreglass laminators use boat building technologies. She is in partnership with David Bird, who is a photographer.

Rebecca enjoys working on a grand scale; smaller works are both finished pieces and models for future works. She is currently designing a group of sculptures for Loros, a Leicestershire hospice, due for completion mid 2009, and private commissions.  

Selected Commissioned Projects

2008    Elstone Hayes commissioned a 13m tall atrium installation,’ Frondis’, for Royal Caribbean’s ‘Sovereign’ ship.

2007    Elstone Hayes commissioned 7 sculptures for Cunard’s new Queen Victoria Cruise ship. ‘White Grass’
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 Hotels. 16 mosaic tree planters each 1.1m diameter. Commissioned by Richmond international. Designs that worked with a lovingly restored secessionist interior..

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

2002    Architects Jestico and Wiles commissioned five glass wall panels, each up to 3m long, illustrating botanical imagery inspired by writers connected to Leatherhead, Surrey.

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

Pre 2000 Rebecca worked on many commissions including sculptures for 6 cruise ships, the largest of which is 30m long. She 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.
2005-09   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’
2003-05    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.

Rebecca has works in the collections of three museums and many private collections. Her 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

2008         Bournemouth College, Marketing and Promotion.
2008         Arts Council, London, Museumaker.
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.

 
Education

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