About
Seeing few distinctions between mankind, creatures, or even the substance of the earth…
Sioban Coppinger offers an accessible, occasionally humorous connection to our natural world.
She combines an acute observation of people and animals with an affectionate and sometimes a wry viewpoint. At times Sioban’s works display a presence that is startlingly strong; other pieces having a lightness of touch … shot through with serenity and grace.
Nonetheless she is unafraid to hint at darker aspects, as noted by Ernst Gombrich in his last collected essays. (‘Uses of Images’, Phaidon Press).
A combination of her love of materials, inventive methods, and thoughtful concepts, have allowed Sioban to forge a sculptural language that is entirely her own.
A Fellow of the Royal Society of Sculptors (Past Treasurer), and a Fellow of the RSA, Sioban’s work is held in public and private collections throughout the UK, as well as Australia, Eire, New Zealand, Switzerland, Canada and the USA.
In the first half of her career Sioban established a reputation in the challenging field of Public Sculpture, the fruits of which have been adopted as landmarks from Glasgow to Somerset.
Currently, Sioban concentrates on studio work, whether this be for exhibition, or for commissioned artworks.
Sioban casts her own bronzes with her engineer husband Pete Penfold … who set up the studio foundry in 2003.
In 2007 Pete transformed a Victorian Cottage into ‘The Muse’, full of enchanting purpose built studios, with the foundry in the garden.
The work done there carries a marque of craftsmanship executed with a sure hand. These facilities have encouraged Sioban’s love of experimenting with and exploring materials, including her first love - Bronze.
Sioban is known for her versatility, always exploring materials in order to find her own way of using them. By innovative use of materials and a penetrating attention to detail, Sioban’s work subtly challenges our concept of what is contemporary.
The Muse is open by appointment, where finished pieces and work-in-progress can be viewed.
This website is the result of much preparation and discussion between the team at Brown and Brown, and us at the Muse. As you can see Sioban’s work is easily browsed with the ICONS of different disciplines.
There are over 100 pieces shown in the WORKS pages. On the TECHNIQUES pages, you can find a great deal of information about the processes used at the Muse.
We hope that this stimulates a conversation with you … so please do tell us what you think of the site, and of the work …
And above all - we hope you enjoy it!
She talks about commissioned work:
“Thanks to wonderful clients and patrons, I enjoy immense freedom in my approach to making things, whether for my own artistic exploration, large corporations or individual private clients.
A measure of my inspiration is shaped by mindfulness of the context and the people I am working with, as well as those who will live with the work. There is much creative value to be mined by inclusivity and collaboration.
When someone comes to discuss a commission, I find that there is often already a connection through the work. This makes a simple and enjoyable beginning.
As we work together … and the ideas progress, I find huge pleasure in nurturing the connections, and intertwining our imaginations and abilities, our requirements and wishes, so that a piece of work is able to ‘grow’ quite organically.
This manner of working is pleasurable … and can produce something of real value … often far better than either of us might have thought of independently.
Commissioning a work of art is an act of creativity in itself.”
Reviews
A USERS GUIDE TO PUBLIC SCULPTURE –In Partnership with the Public Monuments & Sculpture Association. English Heritage.
“Seated on the steps is this statue of Thomas Attwood, one of Birmingham’s first Members of Parliament. … In contrast to the square’s other statues, commemorating men of Birmingham, Joseph Priestly and James Watt, this piece is a consciously non-heroic statement.
Reflecting the attitudes of the late 20th century, Coppinger and Peever’s Attwood is a man of the people, sharing our space instead of being placed on a plinth for us to look up to.”
POEMS FOR ‘THE BEEKEEPER’ – An Anthology of Modern Poetry. The Beeston Poets Collection. Five Leaves Publications. Edited by Robert Gent.
“Poems for the Beekeeper features a selection of the most popular modern poets on the British circuit. Many of the poems included have never been published before, ‘The Beekeeper’ sits quietly, ravaged by the weather, vandals and small children. This is a present for him and statues everywhere.”
THE USES OF IMAGES* – Studies in the Social Function of Art and Visual Communication. Phaidon Press Limited. E H Gombrich.
ttps://gombrich.co.uk/bibliography/
“Admittedly ‘harmless’ is not a word I would choose for Sioban Coppinger’s Man and Sheep on a Park Bench from Nottingham; in this setting the surrealist invention becomes indeed intriguing and slightly menacing, for what if it alive after all?”
(The Italian edition sported ‘The Man & Ewe’ on the cover of the Italian version of the book!)
BRITISH RAIL – POLICY TOWARDS THE ENFIRONMENT – British Railways Board. Paul Temple in Partnership with British Rail at The Chelsea Flower Show.
“British Rail is proud to have sponsored the Paul Temple Garden. By bringing together a brilliant young artist and a respected landscape designer, British Rail is demonstrating three aspects of its environment policy.
… the sculptures represent a witty comment on BR’s policy of encouraging public art on the Railway, Works of quality and style are tangible evidence of a concern for quality and care.”
AFTER A RECENT VISIT TO THE STUDIO – David Perry, Group Partnership Manager, British Railways Board (retired)
“I believe you are demonstrating a remarkable artistic ability to integrate Man and Environment through Art – perhaps now more so than at any previous time in your artistic career. And this is a concept that I believe could be highly attractive to many potential sponsors of public art – particularly those in the Business sector.
Sioban has always enjoyed working with larger corporate organisations, helping them to express themselves through Art to clients, shareholders, and the public at large. Equally, she is comfortable in working sensitively on private commissions. If you are hesitant at the prospect of commissioning, and of dealing directly with an established Artist - relax!”
MILESTONES & PUBLICLY SITED COMMISSIONS
1970-73 NEW HALL SCHOOL, Chelmsford, Essex - full-time boarder. (GCSE & A levels)
1973-74 COLCHESTER SCHOOL OF ART, Colchester, Essex. Art Foundation course.
1974-77 BATH ACADEMY OF ART, Corsham, Wiltshire. Degree in Sculpture (BA Hons)
EARLY WORK FREELANCE: Figure-making; Prop-making - BBC, ICA. COMMISSIONS: Royal College Of Surgeons, & portrait figures for LYN KRAMER WAXWORKS, London
1980-84 ASSISTANT SCULPTOR to Robert Glen, at Morris Singer Foundry. LAS COLINAS MUSTANGS, Las Colinas, Texas.
1983 PUBLIC SCULPTURE: ‘MAN & SHEEP ON A PARK BENCH’. (Notts CC & Arts Council) Rufford Country Park, Notts.
1986 PUBLIC SCULPTURE: ‘THE GARDENER AND THE TRUANT Lion ‘ (British Rail) Stoke Mandeville Railway Station, Buckinghamshire.
1987 PUBLIC SCULPTURE: ’THE BEESTON SEAT’ - Ferro-cement, cast reinforced concrete and bronze. (Notts.C.C. and Broxtowe Borough Council). Beeston High Road, Nottinghamshire.
1988 RESEARCH: Pietra Santa, Italy - foundry techniques, cast bronze.
1989 PUBLIC SCULPTURE: ‘THE JOLLY FISHERMAN’ (British Rail Board). Skegness Railway Station, Lincolnshire.
1990 PUBLIC SCULPTURE: ‘SUNDIAL (TEMPEST FUGIT)’ with Alec & Fiona Peever. (British Rail Board). Templecombe Station, Somerset.
1991 ELECTED Associate & ELECTED to Council (TRUSTEE): Royal Society Of British Sculptors, London
1992 PUBLIC SCULPTURE: ‘ELEPHANT'S WATERWORKS’(Private and
Corporate funding). Children's Courtyard, Basingstoke District Hospital, Hampshire.
1993 PUBLIC SCULPTURE: ‘BIRMINGHAM MAN’(Priscilla Mitchell). Chamberlain Square, Birmingham.
1994-95 ELECTED Treasurer : ELECTED Fellow: Royal Society Of British Sculptors
1995 PUBLIC SCULPTURE: ‘MRS HEDGES’(Countryside Properties PLC) Great Notley, Essex.
1999 ELECTED Fellow of The Royal Society For The Encouragement Of Arts, Manufacture & Commerce (RSA). London
2003 STUDIO FOUNDRY - set up for casting bronzes with Peter Penfold.
2011 PUBLIC SCULPTURE: ‘THE SPRINGBURN HENS’ - white birds fly up the Marie Curie Cancer Care Hospice, Springburn, Glasgow. Hand prints from patients and locals cast into bronze through a donation by Tesco, specifically for the provision of art at the Hospice
2007 STUDIOS & FOUNDRY relocated to the MUSE, Lambourn
2014 PUBLIC SCULPTURE: ‘BLOWN AWAY’ : (P&C Wilcock) National Memorial Arboretum, Staffs.
2016 PETE & SIOBAN moved into the MUSE...
2016 to PRESENT NEW WORK and COMMISSIONS continue...