About
SIOBAN’S ARTWORKS OFFER AN ACCESSIBLE, AT TIMES HUMOROUS REFLECTION OF HUMANS, ANIMALS OFTEN EXPRESSED THROUGH OUR NATURAL WORLD.
At times the work displays a presence that is startlingly strong; other pieces having a lightness of touch … shot through with serenity and grace.
A combination of her love of materials, inventive methods, and thoughtful concepts, have allowed Sioban to forge a sculptural language that is entirely her own.
A Fellow of the Royal Society of Sculptors (Past Treasurer), and a Fellow of the RSA, Sioban’s work has been exhibited widely, is held in public and private collections throughout the UK, as well as Internationally.
This website is the result of much thought, and is a work in progress. Sioban’s work is easily browsed with the ICONS of different disciplines.
There are over 100 pieces shown in the WORKS pages.
On the TECHNIQUES pages, you can find a great deal of information about the processes used at the Muse.
REVIEW BY ERNST GOMBRICH
Nonetheless she is unafraid to hint at darker aspects, as noted by ERNST GOMBRICH* in his last collected essays. ("USES OF IMAGES" Phaidon Press).
“Admittedly ‘harmless’ is not a word I would choose for Sioban Coppinger’s Man and Sheep on a Park Bench from Nottingham; in this setting the surrealist invention becomes indeed intriguing and slightly menacing, for what if it alive after all?”
ROZ KAY, Author, wrote of her first visit to The Muse:
“I had the privilege of being shown around by the sculptor, Sioban Coppinger. She and her husband live in a late Victorian house with a garden, or more of a yard, of reasonable size.
Entering the yard, through large rusty wrought iron gates that front onto the pavement, is a bit like entering a surrealist film set.
A beautiful lion's head in concrete, is on the exterior wall, facing onto an unexplained mound of soil that taking up most of the middle. On the far left is a small shed, with two folding chairs and a small table just fitting in it ...
Outside the shed is a life-sized seated man in concrete, who appears to be sitting in a boat, and behind him (his passenger?) is a life-size concrete sheep, also sitting, like a dog. [THE MAN & EWE ON A PARK BENCH - at the Muse for repair and re-sale]
Under some trees at the back is another large shed, and that's a fridge and foundry. She casts the bronzes there.
When you walk in, a larger than life green wax woman faces you - Sioban made her a couple of years ago but is deliberating the next step, so the wax woman waits in the fridge ... and then there's the crucible or whatever it's called, for melting bronze.
The house, meanwhile, is stuffed with bronzes and other art; she's an incredible draughtswoman; a huge mobile hangs in the window, of flying fish all about a foot in length.
I've passed that often, but on closer inspection you realise the fins of the fish are life-size human hands.
She has a maquette that she made for a competition -- the theme was "MOTHER & SON", Sioban made a greyhound type of dog with human breasts and a human toddler with a dog's tail crawling beneath the dog ... a sort of Magritte version of Romulus and Remus ...
She has bronze horses too ... and these are all flawless in anatomy and energy. Absolutely incredible.
She drinks tins of gin and tonic, she smokes cheroots, and she doesn't give a crap about anything other than her two dogs and her husband Pete, who she adores.”
THE LAMBOURN ALMSHOUSES
It isn't entirely correct to say that Sioban is uncaring, as she devoted over 30 years as a Trustee of her beloved charity, THE LAMBOURN ALMSHOUSES.
She was heavily involved with, not only the care of the Almsmen, but also the building of 9 new Almshouses, making a total of 20 homes for people in need. This was the first social housing built in West Berkshire since the change of the Unity Authority in 1998.
Sioban's work in the field of Public Sculpture
In the first half of her career Sioban established a reputation in the challenging field of Public Sculpture, the fruits of which have been adopted as landmarks from Glasgow to Somerset.
Currently, Sioban concentrates on studio work, whether this be for exhibition, or for commissioned artworks.
The Muse is open by appointment, where finished pieces and work-in-progress can be viewed.
Sioban talks about casting
Sioban casts her own bronzes with her engineer husband Pete Penfold … who set up the studio foundry in 2003.
In 2007 Pete transformed a Victorian Cottage into ‘The Muse’, full of enchanting purpose built studios, with the foundry in the garden.
The work done there carries a marque of craftsmanship executed with a sure hand. These facilities have encouraged Sioban’s love of experimenting with and exploring materials, including her first love - Bronze.
She talks about commissioned work:
THANKS TO INSPIRED CLIENTS AND PATRONS ... I enjoy freedom with my approach to creating, whether that's for individual private clients or for large corporations.
When someone comes to discuss a commission, my first objective is to find a connection.
From there, context shapes the design, informed by the people involved, including those who will LIVE with the work.
There's endless value to be achieved by enlisting inclusivity and collaboration.
As we work together, there's real pleasure in entwining our imaginations, adding the wishes, the requirements from site, etc, so that the project ‘grows’ organically.
Working this way is highly enjoyable and can produce something of real value … often far more than either party might have thought of independently.
Commissioning a work of art is an act of creativity in itself.
Reviews
THE USES OF IMAGES – Studies in the Social Function of Art and Visual Communication. Phaidon Press Limited. ERNST GOMBRICH.
“Admittedly ‘harmless’ is not a word I would choose for Sioban Coppinger’s Man and Sheep on a Park Bench from Nottingham; in this setting the surrealist invention becomes indeed intriguing and slightly menacing, for what if it alive after all?”
(The Italian edition sported ‘The Man & Ewe’ on the cover of the Italian version of the book!)
A USERS GUIDE TO PUBLIC SCULPTURE –In Partnership with the Public Monuments & Sculpture Association. English Heritage.
“Seated on the steps is this statue of Thomas Attwood, one of Birmingham’s first Members of Parliament. … In contrast to the square’s other statues, commemorating men of Birmingham, Joseph Priestly and James Watt, this piece is a consciously non-heroic statement.
Reflecting the attitudes of the late 20th century, Coppinger and Peever’s Attwood is a man of the people, sharing our space instead of being placed on a plinth for us to look up to.”
POEMS FOR ‘THE BEEKEEPER’ – An Anthology of Modern Poetry. The Beeston Poets Collection. Five Leaves Publications. Edited by Robert Gent.
“Poems for the Beekeeper features a selection of the most popular modern poets on the British circuit. Many of the poems included have never been published before, ‘The Beekeeper’ sits quietly, ravaged by the weather, vandals and small children. This is a present for him and statues everywhere.”
BRITISH RAIL – POLICY TOWARDS THE ENVIRONMENT – British Railways Board. Paul Temple in Partnership with British Rail at The Chelsea Flower Show.
“British Rail is proud to have sponsored the Paul Temple Garden. By bringing together a brilliant young artist and a respected landscape designer, British Rail is demonstrating three aspects of its environment policy.
… the sculptures represent a witty comment on BR’s policy of encouraging public art on the Railway, Works of quality and style are tangible evidence of a concern for quality and care.”
AFTER A VISIT TO THE STUDIO – David Perry, Group Partnership Manager, British Railways Board (now retired) said:
“I believe you are demonstrating a remarkable artistic ability to integrate Man and Environment through Art – perhaps now more so than at any previous time in your artistic career. And this is a concept that I believe could be highly attractive to many potential sponsors of public art – particularly those in the Business sector.
Sioban has always enjoyed working with larger corporate organisations, helping them to express themselves through Art to clients, shareholders, and the public at large. Equally, she is comfortable in working sensitively on private commissions. If you are hesitant at the prospect of commissioning, and of dealing directly with an established Artist - relax!”
MILESTONES & PUBLICLY SITED COMMISSIONS
SIOBAN’s STORY:
Since childhood, making sculpture has been embedded in Sioban Coppinger. It compels and sustains her throughout a lifetime as a professional sculptor.
On leaving Bath Academy of Art, Sioban found employment, learning her trade by working in specialist sculpture studios and foundries.
Sioban spent four years at a large Fine Art Foundry, as ‘Chief Enlarger’ for a monumental equestrian sculpture (nine, life-and-a-half sized Mustang horses for Texas), THE LOS CALINOS MUSTANGS were created by international sculptor Rob Glen. This furnished an excellent apprenticeship.
At 27, Sioban was commissioned to make her first public sculpture (MAN & EWE on a PARK BENCH). This ignited a life-long enthusiasm for this captivating arena of sculpture.
As a natural storyteller, the public stage provides a moment to entice the viewers with her engaging sculptures, which move gently into the heart of the narrative. Sioban finds this is a layered, yet direct way to speak to a huge diversity of people.
Public Sculpture demands a melange of disciplines. Attention to site; motif; techniques; budget and message. Sioban has delivered eleven Public Sculptures across the country.
Enlisting the knowledge and skills gleaned from this work, she has created many successful studio and commissioned pieces, bringing joy to clients’ homes and gardens.
In the early 90's, Sioban was elected as an Associate Sculptor (ASS), soon followed by her election to Council as a Trustee. Within 3 years she had been made Treasurer of the Royal Society Of British Sculptors(PTSS), now known as the RSS. Soon after Sioban became a Fellow of the Society. (RSS)
The Muse studio complex is a collection of dedicated spaces in West Berkshire. Since setting up a small foundry with her husband in 2003, together they have developed new techniques of casting fine bronzes.
In recent decades, Sioban has worked with excellent galleries and Sculpture Gardens.
Combining her curiosity for materials. Sioban continues to nurture new ideas and ways, with bronze, copper and silver.