Christopher Marvell: Sculpture

Exhibiting alongside Elaine Pamphilon is sculptor, and husband, Christopher Marvell. Inspired by the considerable amounts of time spent at his home in St Ives, and the daily walks in the countryside with Pamphilon, the rich imagery gathered from the natural world have informed his sculpted animals. Frequently looking to Cornish history and the environment as source material, Marvell produces sculpted bronzes with a concise linearity and elemental fluidity informed by the heritage of the Modernist masters of the St Ives School.

"It is the business of observing acutely and recording – of searching for the line and shape and images. You have to make art from what you know about – a celebration of locality...

One idea leads to another...My graphic linear drawings work well as the starting point for making a sculpture .
Using plaster is brilliant as it can be worked both wet/soft and dry/hard. For 30 years I have used plaster as a modelling material, through the lost wax process then casting everything into bronze. Trying to make something look simple, easy and spontaneous....is difficult. Sometimes results come quickly at other times it takes twenty goes to get that simple line and shape flowing correctly.

I studied sculpture at Kings College, Newcastle University over 40 years ago. The art school still had the legacy of Victor Passmore and Richard Hamilton. Setting up home and studio with the painter Elaine Pamphilon in Cambridge, we had the huge influence of Kettles Yard and meeting Jim Ede, he was the catalyst for having a studio for 25 years in St Ives, Cornwall. Penwith was a place you could be passionate and argue about art. In Cambridge our friends are scientists. But it’s Elaine who has been my biggest influence, best supporter and critic - working together daily, discussing, thinking about the on going process of making sculptures and paintings. We are drawn to the same influences of that endless rich mix of folk art, modern British aesthetic landscape and human connections."

Christopher Marvell was born in 1964 and grew up in Clacton before studying at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne (1982-6). Later Marvell moved to Cambridge and began working in a studio at Fulbourn Manor with artist and designer Majorie Townley. In Cambridge Marvell met his future partner Elaine Pamphilon with whom he bought a 400 year old house which they set about renovating.

Despite working primarily in Cambridge, Marvell spends considerable amounts time at his home in St Ives. Marvell has exhibited in London, Edinburgh and throughout the UK. His work is held in public and private collections nationwide.