Benjamin C Dearnley Fragments of our time
2024
May: Wales UK. Winner of the Art & Buisness commission with Cartrefi Conwy.
May: Kerry County Council grant awarded for 'Let The Light In', a celebration of Harry Clarke's famous windows in the Chapel of an Diseart, Dingle.
May: Dingle Community Lamb project for an Diseart Gardens. Feile na Bealtaine. A community project involving over 150 adults and children over the weekend of the festival.
Spring: European Enterprise award
for 'Contemporary Marble Sculptor of the Year' 2023.
February - Patches for Peig: The first of a series of community based workshops in Bunscoil an Chlocair. Linked to 2024 Feile na Bealtaine. Following on will be a series of other school workshops and wider community projects involving The Dingle health centre and Ventry Crafter's group.
Dingle Men's Shed 3 unique workshops designed to celebrate the Centenary of Harry Clarke's windows in Dingle.
Personal development, research. Beginning of a new set of works looking at local nature as inspiration. Limestone with hand painted stained glass
2023
November: Installation of private commission
September - The Journey: A stained glass commission for a private client in the south west of Ireland to celebrate a personal journey through life. 4 integrated stained glass panels depicting local scenes and personal history.
Summer - May to September. Invited as an International artist to showcase latest works in steel and stained glass.
April - Feile na Bealtine 2023. The Mother of all recycling. A community project to inspire the young and older generations to be more mindful about recycling working with schools and the wider community of the Peninsular. We created the largest sculpted figure in Co Kerry using over 500 recycled plastic containers.
March - Dingle Men's Shed. Wielding workshops to create the 3 meter armature for this years arts festival.
March: New commission for multi award winning wedding venue Treseren house in Cornwall. The Poet's Stone. A celebration of the poet E.B. Browning (1806 - 1861)
March - Unveiling of the Miners memorial 'Hold onto Hope', St Newlyn East, Cornwall. BBC and ITV news teams covering the event.
Personal development and research Local history
2022
June - Mother Tea, New bronze work designed for a member of The London Tea History Association
May - Created a community Art trail for the Feile na Bealtaine festival including 6 x landscape local stone sculptures.
May - Dingle Men's Shed. Steel sign for reopening of the Shed after Covid closures. 8ft x 4ft steel, with Celtic lettering.
April - New bronze work with Mark Rode foundry, Co, Mayo, for private collector in Malaysia.
March - -Large stained glass installation for The Ferryman's Cottage, Moulsford, Oxfordshire. UK.
2021
Cornwall Miners memorial
Studio set up and stained glass studies
Dingle Gallery showcase: The Greenlane Gallery
2020
Move to Ireland
Beetle & Wedge Inn Moulsford: Stained glass work and Stone window surrounds
Fruit of the Spirit, stained glass window for community church in Sarnau village hall, west Wales.
2019
Artparks Sculpture Park, Guernsey. Slate and glass on display throughout this year.
Lettering plinth surround with 23ct gold leaf V cut lettering for St John The Evangelist RC Church, Bath
Cotswold Sculpture Park. Works in marble and bronze on display, April-October.
The Waterfront Gallery, Milford Heaven. Summer exhibition, a collection of new works in stone and glass.
The Unicorn: Large international commission. Marble and solid bronze statue of a unicorn for corporate client in Dubai.
The Eagle’s Gift, private commission. A 3m x 0.8m carving of a bird of prey in walnut to be set over the main entrance of the building. A business- and arts-linked project for the city of Bath.
Group showcase of contemporary slate works in Abergavenny Arts Center, The Art shop and Chappel.
2018
Mother Mary, Queen of Peace: 3m Portland stone statue commissioned by St John the Evangelist Church in Bath, carved in situ.
Charity fundraiser in Bath for Young Adult Carers Development Trust, 2 sculptures donated to a most successful auction.
Charity fundraising project for the Royal Marines and Blesma The Limbless Veterans Association, with ex-Marine Mark Ormrod, entitled Undefeated, Mark Ormrod. Marble and inset lead lettering.
2017
Major commission by Highfield Developments/Emarek. To design a set of four works each 4m by 3m, to be carved by hand into the existing original red brick walls, for four bespoke apartment developments in Newbury, Berks. Using local landmarks as inspirations and local engagement to develop a ‘Timeline in History’ concept which highlights some of the area’s most notable moments and places over the past 2000 years.
Cardigan Castle commission to create sculpture The Sword of Peace in collaboration with renowned Welsh National Bard, Ceri Wyn Jones and National Poet of Wales Gillian Clarke.
2016
September - Collaboration with Scottish Ballet dancers Madeline Squire and Nicholas Shoesmith in marble, on display at T5 Gallery Heathrow Terminal Five.
August - France. Sculpture By the Chateau with Marshall Murry Gallery Monaco.
July - RHS Tatton Park Cheshire,
March -Carrara Italy, selection and collection Carrara marble.
January - Whittington Fine Art Gallery, Henley on Thames, new marble showcase
2015
November - Islington Contempoary Art & Design Fair ICADF 2015
September - Upper Hunter Valley NSW Australia Art Trail opens
August - The Waterfront Gallery summer show of new works in slate and marble.
August - Muswellbrook Regional Art Gallery community project, The Anzac Stone.
July - Upper Hunter Vallery regional Art Gallery Muswellbrook joint show with Dr Lynn Parr.
June - Peterborough County Council presentation of bronze torso of double Olympic medalist Louis Smith
June - September - New South Wales, Australia. A 3 month residency carving over 25 tonnes of local sandstone for one of the Hunter Valley’s award-winning vineyards, Two Rivers.
February - Visiting Lecture programme, Carmarthen School of Art.
2014
June - Bath Artists talk
June - Sculpture in the Garden with Nick Mason, Corsham
May - Borth commission Cardigan Bay
May – Bombay Sapphire Gin, Hampshire, Bacardi
May – Aberaeron, Along The Coast Path, with Ceredigion County Council
May – France, Association des Joyeux Tailleurs du Quercy, Festival of Stone
May – Da Mhile Distillery, Bwlch-y-Groes
April – Private commission, Standing stone, slate Celtic Cross
February – Sports Relief. Donation of a collaborative work with double Olympic Gold winner, Steve Williams OBE.
February – The Welsh Contemporaries at Fountain Fine Art, Llandeilo.
February – ArtParks International Sculpture Festival, selected for the summer festival.
January – Belgravia Gallery, London, new works
2013
November – Vienna show with Taith Contemporary Art.
November – Private commission, Llannon, large slate detail, lettering + design
October – Large private commission for new housing development in Llannon, west Wales.
September – S4C TV interview for the Caerwedros 'Talking Stone' project.
September – Private commission, Slate Isle of Mann detail carving for country house.
August + September – Workshops, An introduction to stone carving.
August – Open Studios Pensarn Chapel.
July – Belgravia Summer Show, Mayfair.
July – Stourhead Summer Show, Wiltshire.
July – 1-tonne slate sculpture for Caerwedros Village Hall.
June – Principal Sculptor for Festival of Stone, Bristol.
May – RHS Chelsea Flower Show, London.
May – Riverhill Himalayan Gardens, Sevenoaks, Kent.
April – T5 Gallery Spring Show, Heathrow Airport.
April – Sianti Gallery, Aberaeron.
March – West Wales Gallery, Fishguard.
2012
October-November – Hart Leisure Centre, Fleet, Hampshire: Avenue of Champions solo show.
August – Waunifor End of Summer Show, Llandysul, Ceredigion.
August – Blaze Gallery, Pembrokeshire County Show, Haverfordwest.
June – Belgravia Gallery, Mayfair.
June – Lewis Elton Gallery, University of Surrey.
June-Sept – Salisbury Cathedral: Avenue of Champions solo show.
June-Sept – Arts in Parliament, House of Commons, Westminster.
May – Bath Contemporary preview of Avenue of Champions.
May – Workshop at Holburne Museum, Bath.
May – Installation of Mark Foster sculpture in Bath city centre.
May – Blaze Gallery Summer Show, Bath.
May – Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire Diamond Jubilee Festival, showing public commission for Salisbury Arts Centre.
March – Bath City College Skills Fair: Sculptor in Residence.
March – O3 Gallery, Oxford, BT Art of Sport group show.
February – Art at Edge group show, Oxford.
February – Private commission for 2-tonne Bath stone horse head.
2011
December – The Prince’s Trust commission to create and donate 1-tonne sculpture The Gift for international auction, raising £8,000 for youth projects.
October – Olympic Ball, showing with one other artist in BT Art of Sport programme.
October – Worcester Lodge, Badminton, Gloucestershire.
September – Oscar Pistorius sculpture launched in Trafalgar Square on International Paralympic Day with Lord Sebastian Coe and London Mayor Boris Johnson, covered by live international TV and press.
August – Private commission, Bath stone.
July – Private commission, alabaster horsehead.
June – Henley Regatta group show at the Leander Club.
June – The Tennis Girl, private commission of lifesize gold-leaf sculpture of iconic poster, launched at the Saatchi Gallery, London, and featured in national press and TV.
May – Larkhall Arts Festival, Bath, Open Studios.
May – Paralympic World Cup, Manchester: BT Art of Sport group show, including casting Oscar Pistorius for a bronze sculpture on live national TV (Channel 4).
February – Private commission, alabaster horsehead.
January-December – Guest Sculptor for Art at the Edge arts project to benefit disadvantaged children, carving twice-lifesize torso of Olympic swimmer Mark Foster for the City of Bath. This included an open studio, school workshops and community presentations.
2010
May-November – Horseworld, Bristol, horse sculpture exhibition.
April – Winter Olympic and Paralympics snowboard design commission for presentation to the Canadian High Commission, London.
March – Official artist at ‘Journey to the Podium’, Colchester Community Football Stadium. The first of the official London 2012/Essex County Council Olympic-commissioned shows.
March – Port Erin Arts Centre, Isle of Man: Commemorative bust of the patron Lillian Tertis founder of the International Tertis Viola Competition. This work is created to honor Mrs. Tertis who set up the International Tertis Viola Competition, which is now in its 30th year. My bronze portrait of Lionel Tertis is on permanent display at the Royal Academy of Music in the strings museum, London.
March – The Bristol Gallery, group show.
March – T5 Gallery Heathrow, group show with The Art of Sport, raising money for the charity Sports Aid.
March – Private commission, half-lifesize torso of Olympian Mark Foster, Bath stone.
February – Lloyds arts group The Art of Sport Winter Olympic and Paralympics works, the Canadian High Commission, London.
2009
December – T5 Gallery, group show taking the coming 2012 Olympic Games as a reference point, also covering the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
December – Essex cultural Olympic conference, workshop facilitator and presentation of the ‘Journey to the Podium’ project, an official London 2012/Essex County Council commission.
December – Bristol City Museum, ‘Wild Dayz’ collaboration with Beezer Photography.
October – Private commission marble torso, placement within the Law Courts, London.
October-April 2010 – Bath Royal United Hospital, Olympic sculpture and drawings.
October – Olympic Snowboard Team training camp in the French Alps, Tignes. Document, film, photograph, for the Lloyds TSB Art of Sport group.
October – Lloyds TSB head office, Bristol waterfront, Olympic sculpture/drawings.
August – London 2012/Essex County Council commission, Journey to the Podium, producing sculpture of Olympic fencer Alex O’Connell which then toured the UK. Also workshops with the gifted arts students and Alex OConnell to inspire the creative work and open up an inside view of one of the UK’s young Olympians.
July-April 2010 – The Royal Windsor suite, BAA, Heathrow: Bronze sculpture of Olympic rower Steve Williams OBE and other Avenue of Champions works.
June-July – Henley Regatta group show.
June – State of Art group show at Glastonbury Festival, its first dedicated gallery.
June – Commission by Aviva UK of Olympic Gold 400m Champion Christine Ohuruogu bronze sculpture, which toured the UK before being sited permanently in Aviva HQ, London.
June – Solo show at Belgravia Gallery, London: 21 sculptures and 9 ink drawings of top Olympic and Paralympic athletes so far completed for Avenue of Champions.
June – Featured by Artists and Illustrators, Art of England, ‘This is London’, interviews on BBC radio, independent internet reviews of the Avenue of Champions show.
April – Italy trip to collect alabaster for sculpture of Lee Pearson, 9-times Paralympics Dressage Champion.
March – Royal Western Academy group show with Bristol street artists, its most successful show to date.
March – BBC 1 TV’S A Question of Sport with Mark Foster as the mystery guest and my team taking a plaster cast from his body for future sculptures.
January-March – Casting Olympic and Paralympic champions for 2012 Avenue of Champions at Salisbury Cathedral.
2008
September – City Hall, London: Olympic and Paralympics show.
August – Edinburgh Festival, showing sculptures of Olympic and Paralympics champions.
August – Australia: Live carving project The Giants Footprint at David Mahony Art Gallery, Sandy Hollow, Denman NSW. Also conducted sculpture workshops at Sandy Hollow School.
July – Henley Regatta Artist in Residence, carving Italian marble with an Olympic rowing theme, using the current champions as inspiration for work to be created on site during the regatta.
July-August – Clifton Arts Club 100th Open Exhibition, Bristol.
June – Old Passage Inn, Arlingham.
June – New Contemporary, Belgravia Gallery, London.
February – The Age of Jazz, the Belgravia Gallery, London.
January – New work at the Jean Jones Gallery Bristol.
2007
December – Grosvenor Square show, London.
November – The Art Pavilion, Mile End, London, One World Environment. The art of recycling, a community project involving artists and local schools.
November – Charity 1000 auction at the Sheraton Hotel, Belgravia, London. Sold my sculpture created for this event, to benefit Barnardos.
November – Private commission, bronze.
November – Private commission, alabaster, Italy.
September – Private commission, alabaster.
March – New work at the Jean Jones Gallery, Bristol.
February – The Belgravia Gallery, Mayfair, London.
2006
November – Royal Academy of Music Tertis bust official presentation to the strings museum, Royal Academy of Music, London.
October – The Society of Portrait Sculptors, London.
October – Master Class with Etienne Millner FRBS. The inspirational teachings of Etienne Millner requires a deep focus and attention to the truth of line created within the work. It is instrumental in the production of this form of sculpture and Etienne is a true master.
October – The Steps Gallery, Bristol.
October – Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, Fulham, London.
July-August – The Park Bar, Bristol.
July – Clifton Arts Club Centenary Exhibition, Bristol.
June – Body Power, The Berkeley Clinic, Marble Arch, London.
June – Degree show, University of London Camberwell.
May – Private portrait commission, bronze.
May – The Salon Gallery, Westbourne Grove, London.
April – New Mythology, joint show with Paul Squire for the Churches Conservation Trust at St Nicholas Church, Gloucester.
March – The Salon Gallery, Westbourne Grove, London.
February – Presentation of the portrait bust of Lionel Tetris, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, with the viola section of the London Symphonic Orchestra.
2005
December – Second Freestyle Gallery group show, The Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London.
November – Freestyle Gallery group show, The Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London.
March – Temporary Contemporary, group show, South London.