Sculpture
Christine Charlesworth
Official artist for
2012 Olympics
Christine specialises in
figurative sculptures and
portaiture, creating short-run
limited editions and
individual pieces to
private or public commission.
Six of Christine's scultures will be shown at The Chelsea Flower show, 23rd to 27th May 2017
'Come to Your Senses' Eco Garden designed by Scotts Miracle-Gro. The garden aims to tackle the overstimulated and sedentary lives of children in the UK with a design that encourages children to enter the haven of a garden. It will be situated in the Discovery Zone of the Great Pavilion.
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Seeds of Hope |
Girl with a book |
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Tom |
Blindman's Buff |
Lolo |
Christine Charlesworth was commissioned by 'Noon Products - Kerry Foods' to celebrate the life and works of The Lord Noon of St. John's Wood KT.MBE. Lord Noon died in October 2015 and the commissioned portrait, in bronze, was made with three other copies, all of which were unveiled in 2016 at:
Noon Products - Kerry Foods which is the main factory.
Christine with Lord Noon's two daughters at the main unveiling at Noon Products in Southall.
Chrstine explaining a detail of the bust at the unveiling, in front of the portrait of Lord Noon on the special wall that was painted to celebrate his life.
Christine Charlesworth was commissioned by Taylor Wimpey to create a sculpture that would enhance the railings along the boundary of the Station View development in Guildford. Using 43 metres of the 48-metre long railings, Christine designed an installation using laser-cut stainless steel that depicted the everyday life of people of Guildford as 36 figures in double-sided silhouettes attached to 24 of the railing panels. Working with Leedsheath of Guildford, Christine's drawings were transferred on to the CAD system by Andy Weller, who worked closely with Christine to keep the laser-cut silhouettes as close as possible to the original artwork. The cut silhouettes were then fitted with specially designed fixings, lining up each section to make sure they would fit on to the railings and allowing for possible slight variations to bar width. Once all 72 silhouettes were ready, they were sand-blasted and coated with a special anti-graffiti surface. On Monday 3rd October 2016 all the silhouettes were installed on site.
A Taylor Wimpey spokesperson said: “We’d like to congratulate Christine for her inspired artwork, along with Andy and everyone else who made this possible throughout the design and production stage.
“The sculpture is testament to Christine’s exceptional creative skills and the figures all look fantastic. Not only do they add real depth to the railings, they also link nicely with the contemporary and vibrant feel of our Station View development.”
Sprint In Hong Kong
Christine is very pleased to announce that 'Sprint' has now been set on site in Hong Kong. When the Chairman of Wing Tai Properties saw the finished sculpture he was so impressed that he decided it would not be set running on the lawn but would be put as the main focal point, in front of the 'water wall' at the entrance to the new, prestigious, Hillside development overlooking Hong Kong. Christine is still in shock and keeps saying 'Wow but I made that!!'
‘Inspiration of the sculpture named SPRINT’
I was inspired to produce this sculpture after seeing a female athlete running along a beach. She was going at such speed that it looked as though she was never touching the ground. I wanted to not only capture her speed, strength and absolute focus of concentration, but also a lightness to the whole figure to give the impression she was suspended in mid-flight.
Christine Charlesworth mrbs swa, Sculptor
‘GUILDFORD or GOLDEN FORD’
Chosen as one of the four final designs from over 60 artists nationwide this sculpture is a model showing just a few of the buildings, people and places of Guildford from the time it was known as ‘Guilden Ford’, so named due to the masses of golden flowers growing along the golden banks of the river. The finished design would include portraits of many well-known people who have lived in Guildford over the years and also many more buildings and landmarks: The Zeppelin attack in WW1, The Picture Palace, Friar Brewery, the Saxon Church of St Mary’s, people such as Elizabeth Frink, Lewis Caroll, Edwin Carpenter, E.H.Shepherd, George Abbot, Alan Turning are just a few that spring to mind, but the idea was to include the residents of Guildford in suggesting places and people from the past. 
The shape of the sculpture follows the curving flow of the river as it wends through Guildford, which is built on a hill, and the sculpture base represents the golden sandy banks. Different buildings of the town, past and present, are depicted on either side, with the top buildings sharing silhouettes. However, the buildings and areas of interest are not necessarily placed as seen in Guildford, rather they are shown as part of the overall design to make finding and recognising the buildings more interesting for the viewer.
Although this design was chosen as the most comprehensive response to the brief, the selection committee felt that the position of the sculpture, along Woodbridge Meadows, was not a suitable place. They felt the sculpture would be best placed in the centre of town where it could be viewed by the public, including visitors and schools.
I have spent quite a long time researching this project and have already learnt a great deal about Guildford that I knew nothing about. I am very enthusiastic about this project. As Guildford is re-designed I feel that it could be a wonderful ‘memory piece’ and also a useful tool for use with schools.
Unfortunately, funding would have to be found if this design is to be realised.
Christine is thrilled that all three of her sculptures submitted for exhibition with the Royal Society of British Artists Annual exhibition at The Mall Galleries this March have been accepted. 'Winning Shot', 'Watching' and 'Sarong' will be on display, alongside many well-known RBA members, at this prestigious exhibition. This year there were a record 1,500 entries for the exhibition, which is opened at the Private View on 16th March and runs until 2nd April.
In September 2015 Christine was commissioned to produce a life-size version of her sculpture 'Sprint'. This has now been completed and cast in bronze at Milwyn Casting in Leatherhead www.milwyn.co.uk. Christine worked closely with the foundry who produced the 1.8metre figure in record time. 'Sprint' is now on the high seas, due to arrive in Hong Kong on 21st March where it will take centre place running down the lawns of Wing Tai Properties new Hillside Development.
This sculpture will be exhibited for the first time at AppArt Greyswood Studio as part of the Surrey Artists' Open Studios which opens on 5th June 2015. It is also on view at Christine's studio in Milford.
More images of Flying Tackle
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'Gibbet Cross Trophy' is a depiction of the cross on Gibbet Hill at Hindhead. This trophy is edged in a rope effect with the 'noose' showing at the back.
'Mickie Brown Trophy' is to commemorate a member of the golf club who was club secretary for many years. It shows a quill pen dipped into a large golf ball, styled to depict the emblem of the Golf Club Manager's Association.
'Gallahers Trophy' is a relief portrait of Tom Gallaher, one of the founder members of Hindhead Golf Club.
More images of the Hindhead Trophies
Christine won two awards for her sculptures at the annual exhibition held at Guildford House Gallery, Surrey. (October-November 2013) 'Watching' won the AJS Sculpture Award and 'Dignity' was joint winner of the President's Award for Portraiture, sharing this award with a portrait painting.
On Saturday 3rd November 2012 'Winning Shot' , portrait of Ade Adepitan by Christine Charlesworth was unveiled in Woking Town Centre. In the newly named and re-designed Jubile Square the sculpture can be seen outside the Library.
At the 150th Society of Women Artists exhibition at the alml Galleries, London, 29th June 2011 Christine Charlesworth won the America Square Conference Centre Award for Sculpture with her sculpture of Ade Adepitan 'Winning Shot'.
The 'Seeds of Hope Children's Garden' at Guildford Cathedral has won first prize for environmental enhancement at the Guildford Design Awards held in October 2009.
The sculptures 'Seeds of Hope' are central to the garden design. The two life size bronze sculptures depict children playing 'dandelion clocks'. The garden was opened in May 2008.
For information about the garden please go to Seeds of Hope Children's Garden
Ian Ricketts Honoured
A LONG-SERVING acting teacher at Guildford School of Acting (GSA) has been honoured with a statue commissioned by one of its most renowned past students.
Ian Ricketts' 42-year career was celebrated on Monday at a gathering of alumni at the school's new base at the University of Surrey.
"It had a sense of freedom about it and a very qenuine warmth from a lot of people I hadn't met for 30 years. It feels, I think, rather humbling and delightful"
Former student Brenda Blethyn commissioned a bronze bust from Guildford's Olympic sculptor, Christine Charlesworth.
Mr Ricketts joked: "one isn't the best judge of oneself and I reluctantly agree that it's a distant likeness. "It's a fine piece of work. I'm not sure where in the university it will go yet. I may have to teach while watched over by my alter ego."
(c) 2000-2015 Christine Charlesworth
