Frink School
Encyclopedia
The Frink School of Figurative Sculpture was named after Elisabeth Frink
(1930–1993), British Sculptor, and was a small intimate academy with a specific discipline of study closer in spirit to a master and apprentice structure than an educational institution. Directed by the British Sculptor Rosemary Barnett
, other sculptors involved in its educational role included Harry Everington
, Alan Thornhill
, Ken Ford
and the painter Jack Skinner.
Its prime aim and charitable purpose was to provide an education in the observational and technical disciplines of figurative sculpture and to support and encourage the creative potential revealed in the process.
Harry Everington
met Rosemary Barnett
in 1990 at the Sir Henry Doulton School of Sculpture in Stoke on Trent. When, in 1993, the funding was removed from the Doulton School, they both set about establishing a successor to it, which would try to give some balance to the trend towards conceptual work in Sculpture Schools. The school covered every aspect of figurative sculpture, including welding, carving in wood and stone, letter cutting, mould-making and casting – in addition to modelling in clay.
The Frink School opened in 1996 in Longton
, moving to The Old Court in Roundwell Street, Tunstall
in 1999.
Initially running a two year full time course, about 4–9 students entered the School per year. It ceased running full-time courses in 2005.
The tutorial direction was more concerned with revelation in sculpture than its viability in the art market or the gallery. Just for two years of their lives, the members of this community were expected to search with perception and imagination and find sculptural means to express that which they could discover. It is expected that this will serve them for the rest for their lives.
Associates of the school include British artists Ruth Addinall, Anthony Beetlestone, John Sydney Carter FRBS, Jon Edgar
, David Klein, Rita Phillips, Caro Sweet, Sarah Smith, Sophie White, and Simon Everington based in Japan, and American sculptor Kerry O'Neil Furlani.
Elisabeth Frink
Dame Elisabeth Jean Frink, DBE, CH, RA was an English sculptor and printmaker...
(1930–1993), British Sculptor, and was a small intimate academy with a specific discipline of study closer in spirit to a master and apprentice structure than an educational institution. Directed by the British Sculptor Rosemary Barnett
Rosemary Barnett
Rosemary Barnett, British sculptor, trained at Kingston School of Art and at the Royal Academy Schools. She was elected a Fellow of the Royal British Society of Sculptors in 1998. She became Principal of the Sir Henry Doulton School of Sculpture, Stoke-on-Trent in 1991...
, other sculptors involved in its educational role included Harry Everington
Harry Everington
Harry Everington was co-founder of the former Frink School of Figurative Sculpture based in the towns of Stoke on Trent , Staffordshire...
, Alan Thornhill
Alan Thornhill
Alan Thornhill is a British artist and sculptor whose long association with clay developed from pottery into sculpture. His evolved methods of working enabled the dispensing of the sculptural armature to allow improvisation, whilst his portraiture challenges notions of normality through rigorous...
, Ken Ford
Ken Ford
Kenneth Ford is a British sculptor, is a former Prix de Rome winner for Sculpture, in 1955. He previously studied at the Royal College of Art under Frank Dobson....
and the painter Jack Skinner.
Its prime aim and charitable purpose was to provide an education in the observational and technical disciplines of figurative sculpture and to support and encourage the creative potential revealed in the process.
Harry Everington
Harry Everington
Harry Everington was co-founder of the former Frink School of Figurative Sculpture based in the towns of Stoke on Trent , Staffordshire...
met Rosemary Barnett
Rosemary Barnett
Rosemary Barnett, British sculptor, trained at Kingston School of Art and at the Royal Academy Schools. She was elected a Fellow of the Royal British Society of Sculptors in 1998. She became Principal of the Sir Henry Doulton School of Sculpture, Stoke-on-Trent in 1991...
in 1990 at the Sir Henry Doulton School of Sculpture in Stoke on Trent. When, in 1993, the funding was removed from the Doulton School, they both set about establishing a successor to it, which would try to give some balance to the trend towards conceptual work in Sculpture Schools. The school covered every aspect of figurative sculpture, including welding, carving in wood and stone, letter cutting, mould-making and casting – in addition to modelling in clay.
The Frink School opened in 1996 in Longton
Longton, Staffordshire
Longton is a southern district of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, and is known locally as the "Neck End" of the city. Longton is one of the six towns of "the Potteries" which formed the City of Stoke-on-Trent in 1925.-History:...
, moving to The Old Court in Roundwell Street, Tunstall
Tunstall, Staffordshire
Tunstall is an area in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England. It was one of the original six towns that federated to form the city. Tunstall is the most northern town of the city of Stoke-on-Trent....
in 1999.
Initially running a two year full time course, about 4–9 students entered the School per year. It ceased running full-time courses in 2005.
The tutorial direction was more concerned with revelation in sculpture than its viability in the art market or the gallery. Just for two years of their lives, the members of this community were expected to search with perception and imagination and find sculptural means to express that which they could discover. It is expected that this will serve them for the rest for their lives.
Associates of the school include British artists Ruth Addinall, Anthony Beetlestone, John Sydney Carter FRBS, Jon Edgar
Jon Edgar
Jon Edgar is a British artist born in Rustington, West Sussex in 1968, the grandson of British cartoonist Brian White. He direct-carves in wood and stone using methods of improvisation, and works in clay.-Biography:...
, David Klein, Rita Phillips, Caro Sweet, Sarah Smith, Sophie White, and Simon Everington based in Japan, and American sculptor Kerry O'Neil Furlani.