The Artist
My love for art started at a young age, when I would spend hours creating models from fimo and fabric. My first real introduction to clay came when I started Sixth Form College in Cambridge and was given a choice of media in which to specialize. As soon as I touched clay I was hooked. I remember carving into a block of clay to create my first figure, and my brilliant teacher, Neil, saying to me, "Remember, the figure is in there, you just have to discover it". This has always stayed with me. When I started my degree course at the University of Wolverhampton, I spend two years experimenting with a range of techniques. Towards the end of my second year and the duration of my third year, my current style began to evolve and continues to develop to this day.
I have returned to my hometown of Soham and have a workshop setup at home where I enjoy creating a range of human and animal figures using my patchwork style of building with clay. My work style is unique and is distinctive as a Sally Dunham creation. My enthusiasm for creating is stronger than ever and my main constraint is finding time to produce all the ideas I have; I don’t think I ever will as I am continuously inspired by the world around me, things I see and people I meet!
I enjoy working on a range of themes and also enjoy the challenge of personal commissions, often creating portraits of individuals, families and pets. I thrive on the test the creation of each new piece brings and find working with a range of figures and animals keeps each new piece alive.
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The Work
All of my work is unique and is individually handcrafted from clay. I use a mixture of earthstone and porcelain clay. I construct the pieces hollow, using no moulds or interior supports, building with small slabs of clay pieced together almost like a patchwork quilt. These individual pieces can be clearly seen in the finish of the piece, giving the sculptures a lively feel and tactile surface. The pieces are twice fired, with the final glaze firing to 1200°C, where the two tone colouring is achieved.
There are many areas to my work. I enjoy working with a range of themes including figures, domestic animals and wild animals. I often work to commission creating pieces for individuals. These have included family and individual portraits, animal portraits, wild animals, anonymous characters, and caricature figures and cars.
I have created some pieces designed to be wall mounted as surface space is often at a premium in today’s homes. These are either mounted directly to the wall, captured on a background painted canvas or mounted onto a frame or mirror.
A recent addition to my work is a new range entitled 'A moment with Mister Herbert’.
Within my non commission pieces, I base my work on an onlooker's view of others existence. I intend to capture a moment in time of a situation or circumstance experienced by ordinary people, without becoming involved with complex human politics. My work is narrative; my intention is not to portray a specific person but an anonymous characterization of a collective type. Each piece captures a tiny segment of a day in the life of somebody's life experience. The source of my work comes mainly from memory, photography or quick on the scene sketches.
If you have any questions or require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me at enquiries@sallydunham.co.uk or 07850 286566.
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A Moment with Mister Herbert
Mister Herbert is a lovable character born from an idea I envisaged in July 2010 and named by my 5 year old son.
Each unique ceramic Mister Herbert is hand made with a drop of humour depicting a range of adventures and sayings. I hope that you can relate to the moments captured and that they bring a smile to your face!
Mister Herbert started as a small figure 10cm tall. This ‘mini’ Mister Herbert continues his adventures and is now joined by a range of ‘large’ Mister Herbert figures who stand approximately 30cm tall and are more detailed.
I can personalise Mister Herbert to reflect any situation, hobby, career or significant moment. For example cycling, playing musical instruments, office worker, policeman, nurse, climber, chef, the birth of a baby, christening, wedding or anniversary. The possibilities are endless!
If you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
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Click here to visit Mister Herbert Gallery
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