Graeme Mitcheson

Artist - Sculptor

Born
1973 in Ashington, Northumberland, England

Lives and works in
Leicestershire

Statement
I am a sculptor primarily working in stone to create public art pieces as well as smaller works for private clients and residencies in schools. My work is nearly always site-specific and often, I will engage the public or schools in the creative thinking process when formulating ideas for a piece. I try to create tactile, eye catching artworks that engage the viewer on a number of levels. The influences running through my work are quite varied though much inspiration has been taken from the natural world. Other influences have been the paintings of Henri Rousseau and the sculpture and lettering of Eric Gill as I appreciate many of the values of traditional stonework but try to incorporate them into my work in a more contemporary way. For the public realm, each sculpture is individually influenced by the environment and the people around where it is to be permanently sited.

Major Commissions.
2012. Commission for a redeveloped Tesco site in Bedworth, Warwickshire.
2011. Major Memorial in Newcastle upon Tyne for former England football Manager Sir Bobby Robson.
2010. Giant entrance feature sculpture for Harbottle Park in Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne.
2010. Memorial for the Bevin Boys Association. National Memorial Arboretum, Burton on Trent.
2009. 2m circular piece for “The Carrs”. Market Warsop, Nottinghamshire.
2009. Sculptures for Ansley, Nether Whitacre and Fillongley, part of the North Arden Trail, Warwickshire.
2009. Sculpture for Tutbury Park, Staffordshire.
2009. 3m tall Leaping horse sculpture for Croft Top Equestrian.
2008. Sculpture for Market Warsop town centre, Nottinghamshire.
2008. Sculpture for Stand Road Park, Chesterfield.
2008. Carvings on boulders in Handsworth Park, near Sheffield.
2007. A series of 1m diameter carved spherical sculptures for Loughborough Canal Basin, Leics.
2007. Kilkenny Limestone mussel sculpture for Conwy Quay, world hertiage site, North Wales.
2007. A bus stop queue, carved in Kilkenny Limestone. Romford, Essex.
2007. 3 sculptural mooring posts for the Harlow Canal, Essex.
2007. 4 sculptural seats for “Quarrymans Walk”. Warwickshire.
2006. 2.5m Clipsham Limestone sculpture for East Mids Development Corp. at Castle Donington, Derby.
2006. 2 Carved relief panels to mark the entrance to Ty Mawr Country Park in North Wales.
2006. 10 entrance features for a Central Park, Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland.
2006. Entrance features for 2 Herefordshire Villages.
2005. Sundial for a heritage site at Hafod Colliery near wrexham.
2005. 12 Carved stepping stones for Nottingham East Midlands Airport.
2004. Sculptural seating for secure hospital garden. Knockbracken Healthcare Park, Belfast.
2004. Major sculpture sited on the Ryepiece Ringway, Bedworth, Warwickshire.
2004. Life size carved stone bust of Sir Isaac Newton, sited in one of his former homes in Lincolnshire.
2004. 6 carved granite semicircular seats for De Montfort Square in Leicester.
2003. 2 sculptural, Kilkenny limestone seats for Museum Square, New walk, Leicester.
2003. Sculpture for Quarry Head Lodge, new housing development, Sheffield.
2003. 4 piece sculptural water feature, Mayfield Road Sheltered Housing Project. Wolverhmpton.
2003. 3 Sculptural Gateways for Caerphilly Borough Council.
2002. Sculpture for Meden Vale community garden, Nottinghamshire.
2001. 8 life-size,carved stone farm animals for a children's playground.Hickleton Colliery,Yorks.
2001. 2 major stone sculptures for Polesworth Heritage Centre, Warwickshire.
2000. 8 tonne granite Millennium Sundial, Countesthorpe Parish Council, Leicestershire
2000. Red Sandstone Circle, Eden Benchmarks Commission, Armathwaite, Cumbria
1999. Celtic style Memorial, Glastonbury, Somerset, Private Commission
1999. 2 metre tall Limestone Column, Astra Zenica, Loughborough
1998. 6 sets of giant cutlery, Penistone roundabout, Sheffield
1998. 2 metre marble column, Leamington Spa fire station HQ. ( Worked with Richard Perry )
1998. Restoration of monument, Melbourne Market Place, Derbyshire
1998. Memorial for Augustinian Canons, Calke Abbey (National Trust), Derbyshire
1998. Sandstone Sculpture, Breeston Primary School, Nottinghamshire.
1997. 4 Foot sitting Buddha for private gardens, Derbyshire
1997. Life sized Bronze Bust, Synpac Pharmaceuticals, Northumberland
1997. 6 Sculptural balustrades, Nottingham Castle. (Worked with Richard Perry)
1995. Decoration of stone plinths, Batley Market Place, Yorkshire (Worked with David Haigh)
1995. Gone for a plodge, 5 Weirs Walk Trust, Sheffield City Council
1995. Sculpture for Bridge Street Medical Practice, Loughborough.
1995. 2 Sculptures for the Courtyard of the Ferrers Centre at Staunton Harold, Leicestershire.

Schools
2011. Summer term residency in Newton Burgoland Primary School, Leics.
2010. Sculpture for All saints Primary School, Coalville, Leics.
2010. Workshops in Rawlins Community College, Quorn, Leics.
2009. 1 week residency at Brockshill primary school, Oadby, Leics.
2009. Creation of a carved stone apple in the Isaac Newton Primary School, Grantham, Notts.
2008. Several days at Limehurst Primary School, Loughborough.
2007/08. 4 residencies in Rushey Mead School, Leicester.
2004. 2 month Residency at Sir Jonathan North Community College, Leicester.
2003. Residency at Duffield Primary School, Derbyshire.
2003. 1 week Residency at Middleton in Teesdale Primary School, County Durham
2002. 1 week Residency at Wingerwoth Primary School, Derbyshire.
2001. 7 day Residency at Countesthorpe Community College, Leicestershire.
2001. Week long residency at Blaby Primary School, Leicestershire.
2000. 2 week residency at Countesthorpe Primary School, Leicestershire.
1996. Week long residency, Hugglescote Primary School.

Exhibitions.
2010. The Ferrers Centre for Arts and Crafts as part of the Made in Leicestershire exhibition.
2007. Melbourne Arts Festival, Derbyshire.
2004. Penchant Designs, St. Albans.
2002/03. Urban Gardens, London Olympia .
2000. Garden Architecture, Fulham, London.
1999/00. Artspace, Henley on Thames, Oxon
1999/00/01/03. Country Living Spring Fair, Business Design Centre, Islington
1999/00/01. Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, London
1999. Contemporary Art Auction, Nottingham Castle
1998/99/01/02/03. The Bow House Gallery, Barnet, Hertfordshire
1998. Nottingham City Arts, Art Exchange, Nottingham
1998. The Harley Gallery, nr Worksop, Nottinghamshire
1997. Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, Derby
1997. The Hurt Gallery, Wirksworth, Derbyshire

Other Work
2009. Conservation and repair of the “Goddess Diana” sculpture. Willesley Golf Club. Leics.
2009. Bottle top mosaic sculptures in St. Edwards School, Castle Donington, Leics.
1998. Restoration of monument, Melbourne Market Place, Derbyshire
1997. 6 Sculptural balustrades, Nottingham Castle. (Worked with Richard Perry)
1995. Worked as an assistant at the National Stone Carving Symposium in Sheffield.
1995. Decoration of stone plinths, Batley Market Place, Yorkshire.(Worked with David Haigh)

Qualifications and Honours
2008. Associate member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors
1995. BA Hons, Fine Art, Loughborough College of Art & Design
1992. Foundation Course in Art & Design, Hartlepool College of Art
1991. A-Level Art, Economics, Geography and General Studies. Ashington High School, Northumberland.

Areas of work
Public Art, Exhibiting, Private commissions, Residencies, Workshops.

I run weekend sculpture workshops from my studio and give talks and demonstrations for local schools and organisations.