Fenwick Lawson
Encyclopedia
Fenwick Justin John Lawson, ARCA
(born 19 May 1932 in South Moor
, County Durham
), commonly known as Fenwick Lawson, is an English sculptor based in the north-east of England.
, Co. Durham and spent his childhood in the neighbouring village of Craghead
.
He studied at the Sunderland College of Art (1951–54) and Royal College of Art
, London (1954–57), under John Skeaping
and under the influence of Jacob Epstein
(then in the college working on the Llandaff Christ). In 1958 and 1959, having been awarded the Sir James Knott Travelling Scholarship, he completed his studies by travel in France, Italy and Greece, being influenced by the sculptural masters such as Michelangelo
and Donatello
and by the simplicity of form in Cycladic art
.
In 1961 he was appointed Lecturer in Sculpture at Newcastle-upon-Tyne College of Art and when this merged into Newcastle-upon-Tyne Polytechnic 9 years later, became that institution's Head of Sculpture and, from 1972, its Principal. He retired from teaching in 1984.
He has been a member of various bodies, such as the Art and Architects Department of the Bishops Conference of England and Wales (1972–77), the Fabrics Advisory Committee of St. Nicholas' Cathedral, Newcastle-upon Tyne
(1991–94), and the Advisory Committee for Historic Churches in the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle (1995–2000). He was also visiting Lecturer at the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee
, Scotland (1987) and at the Royal Academy
in London (1987–89). He has been an Honorary Member of the Northumbria Branch of the Royal Institute of British Architects
since 1986, and was a trustee of Durham City Trust from 1979 to 1995.
Fenwick has been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Durham University (2008). Durham City's new public sculpture, by Fenwick is 'The Journey'. It was unveiled by The Princess Royal
on 26 September 2008. Fenwick was granted the Freeman of the City of Durham on 10 November 2008.
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
(born 19 May 1932 in South Moor
South Moor
South Moor is a village in County Durham, in England. It is located to the south-west of Stanley on the northern slope of the Craghead valley. It is a well-developed village, yet still semi rural, containing a main street of around twelve shops which survive despite their proximity to the front...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
), commonly known as Fenwick Lawson, is an English sculptor based in the north-east of England.
Life
Fenwick Lawson was born in 1932 in South MoorSouth Moor
South Moor is a village in County Durham, in England. It is located to the south-west of Stanley on the northern slope of the Craghead valley. It is a well-developed village, yet still semi rural, containing a main street of around twelve shops which survive despite their proximity to the front...
, Co. Durham and spent his childhood in the neighbouring village of Craghead
Craghead
Craghead is a former mining village in County Durham, England. It is located at the bottom of the valley to the south of Stanley, on the main road between Stanley and Durham, and not far from the village of Edmondsley....
.
He studied at the Sunderland College of Art (1951–54) and Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
, London (1954–57), under John Skeaping
John Skeaping
John Rattenbury Skeaping, RA was an English sculptor and equine painter.Born in South Woodford, Essex, Skeaping studied at Goldsmith's College, London, and later at the Royal Academy. He was the first husband of the sculptor Barbara Hepworth, with whom he exhibited during the 1920s...
and under the influence of Jacob Epstein
Jacob Epstein
Sir Jacob Epstein KBE was an American-born British sculptor who helped pioneer modern sculpture. He was born in the United States, and moved to Europe in 1902, becoming a British citizen in 1911. He often produced controversial works which challenged taboos on what was appropriate subject matter...
(then in the college working on the Llandaff Christ). In 1958 and 1959, having been awarded the Sir James Knott Travelling Scholarship, he completed his studies by travel in France, Italy and Greece, being influenced by the sculptural masters such as Michelangelo
Michelangelo
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni , commonly known as Michelangelo, was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet, and engineer who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art...
and Donatello
Donatello
Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi , also known as Donatello, was an early Renaissance Italian artist and sculptor from Florence...
and by the simplicity of form in Cycladic art
Cycladic art
Cycladic art encompasses the visual art of the ancient Cycladic civilization, which flourished in the islands of the Aegean Sea from 3300 - 2000 BCE. Along with the Minoans and Mycenaeans, the Cycladic people are counted among the three major Aegean cultures...
.
In 1961 he was appointed Lecturer in Sculpture at Newcastle-upon-Tyne College of Art and when this merged into Newcastle-upon-Tyne Polytechnic 9 years later, became that institution's Head of Sculpture and, from 1972, its Principal. He retired from teaching in 1984.
He has been a member of various bodies, such as the Art and Architects Department of the Bishops Conference of England and Wales (1972–77), the Fabrics Advisory Committee of St. Nicholas' Cathedral, Newcastle-upon Tyne
Newcastle Cathedral
St Nicholas's Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Its full title is The Cathedral Church of St Nicholas Newcastle upon Tyne...
(1991–94), and the Advisory Committee for Historic Churches in the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle (1995–2000). He was also visiting Lecturer at the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, Scotland (1987) and at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
in London (1987–89). He has been an Honorary Member of the Northumbria Branch of the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
since 1986, and was a trustee of Durham City Trust from 1979 to 1995.
Fenwick has been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Durham University (2008). Durham City's new public sculpture, by Fenwick is 'The Journey'. It was unveiled by The Princess Royal
Anne, Princess Royal
Princess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
on 26 September 2008. Fenwick was granted the Freeman of the City of Durham on 10 November 2008.
Some of Fenwick's work
Name, date, and current location.- Coventry Christ, 1955–1956, St Peter's, Jarrow
- St Michael and the Devil, 1956, St Paul's, JarrowMonkwearmouth-Jarrow AbbeyWearmouth-Jarrow is a twin-foundation English monastery, located on the River Wear in Sunderland and the River Tyne at Jarrow respectively, in the Kingdom of Northumbria . Its formal name is The Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Wearmouth-Jarrow...
- Interaction, 1962, Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
- Holy Family, 1967, Church of the Holy Family, Grindon, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
- The Risen Christ, 1968, St Paul's, JarrowMonkwearmouth-Jarrow AbbeyWearmouth-Jarrow is a twin-foundation English monastery, located on the River Wear in Sunderland and the River Tyne at Jarrow respectively, in the Kingdom of Northumbria . Its formal name is The Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Wearmouth-Jarrow...
- St Bede, 1970, St Bede's, Washington, Tyne and Wear
- Risen Christ, 1972, RC Chaplaincy, Newcastle University
- Venerable BedeBedeBede , also referred to as Saint Bede or the Venerable Bede , was a monk at the Northumbrian monastery of Saint Peter at Monkwearmouth, today part of Sunderland, England, and of its companion monastery, Saint Paul's, in modern Jarrow , both in the Kingdom of Northumbria...
,1973, St Paul's, JarrowMonkwearmouth-Jarrow AbbeyWearmouth-Jarrow is a twin-foundation English monastery, located on the River Wear in Sunderland and the River Tyne at Jarrow respectively, in the Kingdom of Northumbria . Its formal name is The Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Wearmouth-Jarrow... - Pieta, 1974–1981, east end of Durham CathedralDurham CathedralThe Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham is a cathedral in the city of Durham, England, the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Durham. The Bishopric dates from 995, with the present cathedral being founded in AD 1093...
since 2004 (shown at York MinsterYork MinsterYork Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
1984 - 1996) - Cuthbert of FarneFarne IslandsThe Farne Islands are a group of islands off the coast of Northumberland, England. There are between 15 and 20 or more islands depending on the state of the tide. They are scattered about 2.5–7.5 km distant from the mainland, divided into two groups, the Inner Group and the Outer Group...
, 1984, Durham Heritage Centre (originally shown in the cloister of Durham Cathedral from 1984 to 1996; full-size bronze cast made in 2000 is on show at Lindisfarne Abbey) - Risen Christ, 1974, St Michael's, Houghton-le-Spring
- Pulpit Christ, 1976, Southwick Cathedral, London
- Lord Of The Dance, 1956, St Peter and Paul, Fareham, Hampshire
- Annunciation, 1977, St Mary-le-Bow, London
- Lectern with Carved Dove, 1978–79, Bill Quay Methodist Church, Pelaw, Tyne and Wear
- Processional Cross, 1981, St Pancras Parish Church, Euston Road, London
- Processional Cross, 1982, St Gregory's, South Shields, Tyne and Wear
- Risen Christ, 1982, St Gregory's, South Shields, Tyne and Wear
- Annunciation, 1982, St Gregory's, South Shields, Tyne and Wear
- Pascal Candle, 1982, St Gregory's, South Shields, Tyne and Wear
- Dove, 1982, St Gregory's, South Shields, Tyne and Wear
- Trinity, 1982, Church of the Holy Trinity, Carlisle
- Risen Christ, 1983, St Oswald's, South Shields, Tyne and Wear
- Condemned, 1984, Ushaw College, Co Durham
- Hostage, 1984, Ushaw College, Co Durham
- The Scream, 1985, Ushaw College, Co Durham
- Christ in the Tomb, 1985, (14th station of the crossStations of the CrossStations of the Cross refers to the depiction of the final hours of Jesus, and the devotion commemorating the Passion. The tradition as chapel devotion began with St...
, with casts of the hands of the Ascended Christ at Jarrow), 1988, east end of Durham CathedralDurham CathedralThe Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham is a cathedral in the city of Durham, England, the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Durham. The Bishopric dates from 995, with the present cathedral being founded in AD 1093... - Stations Of The Cross, 1986, St Joseph's, Wetherby
- Our Lady, 1986, St Joseph's, Wetherby
- Risen Christ, 1986, St Joseph's, Wetherby
- Stations Of The Cross, 1986, Ecumenical Chapel, Youth Custody Centre, Castington, Northumberland
- Our Lady, 1986, Ecumenical Chapel, Youth Custody Centre, CastingtonCastington (HM Prison)HM Prison Castington is a male juvenile's prison and Young Offenders Institution, located in the village of Acklington in Northumberland, England...
, Northumberland - Risen Christ, 1988, St Francis of Assisi, Sheffield
- Weeping Women, 1989–90, Ushaw College, Co Durham
- Celtic Spirit 2, 1990, Teikyo University, Durham City
- San Damiano Christ, 1991, Beda Pontifico Collegio, Rome
- Pascal Candle, 1991, St Anthony's, Hull
- Spiral Floor Mosaic, 1992, The Crypt, Cathedral Church of St Marie, Sheffield
- Risen Christ, 1992, The Crypt, Cathedral Church of St Marie, Sheffield
- Standing Cross, 1992, St. Bede's, Bedlington, Northumberland
- Our Lady of Bedlington, 1992, St Bede's, Bedlington, Northumberland
- Christ Is the Morning Star, Stained glass window, 1992, St. Bede's, Bedlington, Northumberland
- Star Of David, 1992, St Bede's, Bedlington, Northumberland
- Altar, 1993, St Augustine's, Darlington, Co. Durham
- Lectern, 1993, St Augustine's, Darlington, Co. Durham
- Chair, 1993, St Augustine's, Darlington, Co. Durham
- Font, 1993, St Augustine's, Darlington, Co. Durham
- St Wilfred, 1993, St Wilfred's, Preston, Lancashire
- Lectern, 1995, St Cuthberts's, Durham City
- Memorial Processional Cross, 1995, St Cuthberts's, Durham City
- Stained Glass Sanctuary Screen, 1995, St Mary's, Jarrow, Tyne and Wear
- Hidden Life, 1996, St Wilfred's, Preston, Lancashire
- Annunciation, 1991, St Francis of Assisi, Hull
- Cross, 1991, St Francis of Assisi, Hull
- St Augustin, 1997, St Augustine's, Darlington, Co. Durham
- Derry Cross', 1998, County LondonderryCounty LondonderryThe place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
, Northern IrelandNorthern IrelandNorthern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west... - Stained Glass Screen', 1991, St Benedict's, Garforth, Yorkshire
- Cuthbert's Journey or The Journey, 1999, from 2005 at St Mary's, LindisfarneLindisfarneLindisfarne is a tidal island off the north-east coast of England. It is also known as Holy Island and constitutes a civil parish in Northumberland...
(first shown at The Red Box, Newcastle-upon-Tyne; - Beda Bede, 2001, Beda Pontifico Collegio, Rome
- The Wheel Cross, 2001, Gospel Garden, Lindisfarne
- Burning Bush, 2003, Family Collection
- Finial, 2005, St Luke's, Grimethorpe, Yorkshire
- Mary, 2006, St Mary's CollegeSt Mary's College, DurhamSt Mary's College is a college of the University of Durham in England. Following the grant of a supplemental charter in 1895 allowing women to receive degrees of the university, St Mary's was founded as the Women's Hostel in 1899, adopting its present name in May 1920...
, Durham UniversityDurham UniversityThe University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837... - "Risen Christ", 2008 Grey College, DurhamGrey College, DurhamGrey College is a college of the University of Durham in England. Although it was originally planned that the college was to be named Oliver Cromwell College, this proved too controversial and it was instead named after Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, who was Prime Minister at the time of the...
, Durham UniversityDurham UniversityThe University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837... - "The Journey" 2008 Bronze, Millennium Square, Durham City