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Susie Hartley

I draw inspiration from ancient fragmented sculptures, using the torso as my main focal point.

Figurative sculpture has been my passion since graduating from Canterbury College of Art 30 years ago. Exploring shape, form and texture I create sculptures that represent and interpret the human form.

My  expressive fragmented figures celebrate the strength and beauty of the female form. Through twisting, arching and stretching my forms express tension and energy capturing movement in clay.

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I draw inspiration from ancient fragmented sculptures, using the torso as my main focal point. Historic figurative sculptures and paintings from a variety of cultures including Indian art have been a major source of inspiration to my work. Life drawing is intrinsic to my art and works hand in hand to support my three dimensional work.

I want to create sculptures that depict energy and movement within the human form, sculptures that have a tactile quality that draw you in so that you can experience new qualities and appealing forms from all angles.

My recent ceramic work also explore colour though a range of oxides and glazes – designed for both interior and exterior spaces. My larger ceramic sculptures are fixed to either oak or marble bases and are fired to high Stoneware temperatures to endure external elements.

 

I was educated at Cranborne ChaseSchool in Wiltshire and prior to my degree studied my Foundation at Wimbledon School of Art, London.

I was educated at Cranborne Chase School in Wiltshire and prior to my degree studied my Foundation at Wimbledon School of Art, London. On leaving college in the late 1980’s I continued my figurative work in London taking portrait bust commissions of prominent members of the Houses of Parliament including Sir Hugh Rossi and Viscount Falkland.

 

I also worked on larger sculptural commissions for clients’ gardens and managed a small business designing figurative candlesticks for a variety of retail outlets. It was during this time I became interested in Propmaking and decided to move to Lewes, East Sussex where I enjoyed working at Glyndebourne Opera House. On leaving Glyndebourne in the mid 1990’s I began teaching Art and Design and continued to live and work in Lewes.

 

Throughout my teaching career I continued developing my figurative skills through sustained practise of life drawing, developing portraiture and working from life. During the past year I have stepped back from my teaching commitments and now focussing my attention on developing my career through my sculptural figurative work.

 

Click here to see our selected works by Susie Hartley.

 

This year I will be exhibiting my work at:
    • Hannah Peschar Sculpture Gardens, Surrey
    • Borde Hill Gardens, West Sussex (August – September)
    • Contemporary Art Fair  – Surrey (March)
    • Lewes Artwave, East Sussex (August)
    • Surrey Sculpture Society RHS Wisley (August – September)
    • Contemporary Art Fair – Surrey (September)
    • Contemporary Art Fair – Windsor (November)
    • Moorwood Art – Somerset (November)