Jonathan Clarke sculptor & Andrew Pringle painter

Jonathan Clarke

Jonathan Clarke was born in 1961 in Suffolk, where he continues to work today. At the age of 16 he took up an apprenticeship with his father, the sculptor Geoffrey Clarke (RA). First exhibiting in the early 1980s, Jonathan works in sand-cast aluminium using a technique called lost polystyrene. The poly original is packed in damp clay sand and is destroyed on contact by the molten aluminium (reaching temperatures of 650 degrees) producing a unique one-off sculpture in the process.

Writing about Jonathan’s first solo show (Chapell Galleries), Galleries magazine noted ‘His line of inheritance from the masters of the century, from Gabo, through Moore, to Paolozzi.’ His style, whilst abstract and architectural, carries a great deal of emotional resonance, often taking inspiration from social, spiritual and mythological subject matter. Other influences that Jonathan cites include the sculptors Eduard Chillida and Anthony Caro, as well as two dimensional artists such as Robert Motherwell and Mark Rothko. Jonathan has had a series of successful exhibitions over the years both in the UK and abroad (see selected exhibitions).

He has also attracted a number of prestigious commissions including an 11metre wallmounted cross for Ely Cathedral (The Way of Life, 2001), an eye-catching figure for the town of Colchester (Boudica, 1999) and a twelve-piece exhibit for Trinity Hall’s permanent collection in Cambridge (Twelve, 2006).

Selected Exhibitions

2023 AKA Gallery, Cambridge

2015 The Nine British Art, St James’s London

2014 New Work North House Gallery, Manningtree

2012 Making Time North House Galler, Manningtree

2008 Britten-Pears Foundation, Aldeburgh Palazzo Ducale Gubbio, Italy New Art Centre Roche Court, Salisbury

2007 Trinity Hall, Cambridge

2006 Dronninglund, Denmark Frederiksvaerk, Denmark

2005 Sea-Legs, National Maritime Museum , Falmouth, Cornwall Jonathan Clarke at Snape Maltings, Snape, Aldeburgh

2004 Jonathan Clarke in Venice, Gallery La Rezzonico, Venice

2001 Retrospective, Gainsborough‘s House

2000 Head on, Chappel Galleries

Selected Commissions

Boudica, Colchester 1999
Stations OF The Cross, Southwell Minster, Notts. 1999
The Way Of Life, Ely Cathedral 2001
Twelve, Trinity Hall Cambridge 2006
Gateway, New Street Square, London 2008
Candlesticks, Chichester Cathedral 2008
Aumbry, Chichester Cathedral 2013
Sign, Wimborne Minster, Dorset 2015
Interface, private commission, Gloucester 2017

Andrew Pringle

B. 1955, I studied at The Ruskin School of Drawing, Oxford University, and then the Royal Academy Schools. In that time RB. Kitaj, John Piper, Maggi Hambling, William Scott, Eduardo Paolozzi, Peter and Jane Greenham as well as Roderick Barrett tutored us.

Painting landscape and still life are my main interests influenced by Gwen John, Prunella Clough, Mary Potter, Jane Dowling, Morandi, Braque, Bonnard and Peter Lanyon. Building up the paint surface with layers of drying paint, scumbling and constantly reworking the tones and shapes is my main purpose; a kind of meditation, searching for unity. A wide range of people from all walks of life have kindly supported me and for this I'm eternally grateful.

Education

1976 - 1979 The Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, Oxford University

1981 - 1984Royal Academy Schools, London

Awards

1981 - 1984 Francis Cook Award

1981 & 1984 David Murray Landscape Award

1983 Henfield Award

1983 & 1984 Knights of the Round Table Award

Exhibited

1981 Jeremy Wayne, London

1983 R.A Summer Exhibition, Piccadilly

1984 R.A Schools Final Year Show, Piccadilly

1990 The Fermoy Gallery, Norfolk

1997 Parish Lantern Gallery, Walberswick

1998 - 2003 The Barnsdale Gallery, Yoxford

2003 The Big Shed, Iken

2004 The New Grafton Gallery, London

2006 The Big Shed, Iken

2006 Chappel Gallery, Chappel

2013 Golden Road Gallery, Sudbourne

2014 Seaview Gallery, Walberswick

2022 Anteros Gallery, Norwich

Collections

Hamish Pringle
Lizzy Van Amerongen
Lucy Smith
Robert Sackville-West
James Barclay
The Farghers
Laura Montague-Douglas-Scott
Caroline Quentin
Alan & Jan Morgan
Paul Keegan
Jane Greenham
Brian Sewell
Sir Brinsley Ford