Roger Stephens
Concepts My work is primarily in stone, contemporary and abstract with the occasional use of stainless steel and timber. Some of my pieces are cast into bronze. The inspiration and ideas for my work I take from the environment around me be it plants, rocks, heavy industry, insects. I have also felt it necessary to create political pieces that are a reaction to specific turn of events. My approach is to pare back the idea to its constituent parts, to look at what the elemental structure reveals so that I can find the essence of an idea. Whatever the theme or idea, I endeavour to convey a feeling so that there is something for the viewer to do, to find their own interpretation of the piece. From working around ideas of regeneration and new growth, I am now looking at the way materials are altered by outside influences; in the natural world by climate and genetics and in science by new technologies. When invited, I also create pieces for themed exhibitions. Although these pieces are exhibition specific, I try to interpret the idea in ways that will encourage the viewer to ask questions that may be new to them. Career path While at Prep school I was introduced to the world of stone, specifically alabaster that was manageable for young hands. I was fascinated by this natural material which is all around us and is the building block of the world. From this time I was drawn to sculpture and how it was done. Before any formal training I carved soap stone and the softer marbles at a Sculpture Night School Course. After running my own business for many years I went to Weymouth College to study Architectural Stone Carving, gaining a City and Guilds Advance Craft Diploma with a Distinction. I then worked at Salisbury Cathedral on the Major Repair Programme carving details like Dog Heads and Gargoyles for the Spire, Tower and the West Front. While still at Salisbury Cathedral I had my own studio and began to create commissioned sculptures and pieces for galleries but now work full time as a sculptor. Represented by, Cadogan Contemporary. 87 Old Brompton Road, London, SW7 3LD. cadogancontemporary.com
Solo exhibitions 2008 - "Aspects of Conflict", Salisbury Library Gallery, Salisbury Group exhibitions 2013 - Annual Open Exhibition, RWA, Bristol. New Year exhibition, Cadogan Contemporary, Old Brompton Road, London 2012 - "Celebrating Art in the Garden", Avebury Manor, Avebury, Wilts 2012 - "Red Orb", Leeson House, Langton Matravers, Dorset 2012 - "SP", Gallery 53, Salisbury, Wilts. 2012 - Group Exhibition, The Cartshed Gallery, Semley, Dorset 2011 - "Received Wisdom", Arlington Art Centre, Newbury 2011 - "Sculpture in Paradise, The Cathedral, Chichester 2011 - "The Figure in the Landscape", The Discovery Centre, Winchester 2011 - "The Word", Group Exhibition, Sarum College, The Close, Salisbury 2011 - Group Exhibition, Bloomsbury Art Fair, Goodenough College, London 2010 - "Liminality", Toward the Unknown Region"., Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury 2010 - Group Exhibition, The Himalayan Garden & Sculpture Park, Ripon, North Yorkshire 2010 - Recent work, The Art House Gallery, Bournemouth 2009 - Mixed Exhibition, Morgan Boyce Gallery, Marlborough 2008 - "Stone", Salisbury Arts Centre, Salisbury 2007 - Recent Work, Kelly Ross Fine Art, The Art Stable, Child Okeford 2007 - Recent Work, Netherhampton House, Salisbury 2005 - Art Loan Collection, University College Winchester, Winchester, Hants 2005 - Garden Sculpture Exhibition, RHS Gardens, Harlow Carr, Harrogate, North Yorkshire 2005 - Summer Exhibition, The Garden Gallery, Broughton, Hants 2004 - "A Thing of Beauty", The Gallery, South Walsham, Norfolk 2004 - Millfield Summer Show, Atkinson Gallery, Street, Somerset 2004 - The Sculpture Show, Puthall Park, Marlborough, Wilts 2003 - "Drawn From Nature", Exbury Gardens, Exbury, Hants 2003 - Art in the Garden, Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Romsey Hants 2003 - Henley Arts Festival, Henley on Thames, Surrey 2003 - Wylye Vallay Art Trail, Chaffyn Grove School, Salisbury 2002 - "Discerning Eye", The Mall Gallery, London 2002 - Garden Gallery, Broughton, Hampshire 2002 - HenleyArts Festival, Henley on Thames 2002 - Painshill Park, Cobham 2002 - Tendercare, Denham 2001 - Garden Gallery, Broughton, Hampshire 2001 - Henley Arts Festival, Henley on Thames 1998 - Beatrice Royal, Eastleigh, Hampshire 1997 - Touchstone, Fisherton Mill, Salisbury, Wiltshire Private commissions 2012 - Commemorative Bench, Church of St Cross, Winchester, Hants 2007 - "Theca" Doddington Red Sandstone, sculpture, Private Garden, Salisbury 2006 - "Waiting for the Sun, Peakmoor sandstone Sculpture, Private Garden, Hampshire 2005 - "Cherish" Northumberland Gritstone, Garden sculpture, Private Garden, Suffolk 2002 - Seat & Sundial, Parish Church, Broughton, Hampshire 1999 - "Snail" Memorial, Dauntsy School, West Lavington, Wiltshire Public commissions 2010 - Two Acorn bollards, Dunhouse Buff sandstone, Fairoak & Horton Heath Parish Council, Knowle Park, Eastleigh, Southampton 2005 - Three Sculptural Seats in Granite, The Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth, Hants 2003 - Commemorative Sculpture in Portland Stone, St Peter's RC School, Winchester, Hants 2000 - "Anaimal, Vegetable or Mineral" Seating, Clarendon Way, Broughton, Hampshire Competitions, prizes and awards 2006 - 1st Prize for Sculpture , Wiltshire Open Exhibition, Salisbury 2005 - Onyx Environmental Trust Award and Best Landscaping Award, The Porters Garden, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth 2004 - Sculpture Prize, Millfield Summer Show, Street Somerset 2002 - The Lady Radnor Award, Salisbury Civic Society , Taylor's Alms Houses, Salisbury 1999 - Best Street Furniture Award, South of England in Bloom, Clarendon Way, Broughton, Hampshire 1997 - Arts Council A4E National Lottery Award, "Touchstone" Sculpture Project, Salisbury Other 2009 - "Demeter". Acquired by St George's University, Horton Halls of Residence, London 2008 - "Looking Through the Past to the Present", Art Loan Collection, College Campus, Winchester University