LEEDS CASTLE SCULPTURE TRAIL 2024
From August 24th to October 6th, the wide and graceful Leeds Castle and gardens were adorned with a wide variety of sculptures, including several of mine, and my colleague David Gisby’s stained glass. In terms of pure picturesque beauty, this is probably the best that any of us exhibit at.
2023
If you visited the CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW last year (23rd-27th May), in the Floral Hall, did you notice my Giraffe as centre-piece of The No Name Nursery exhibit? Coo… Chelsea. I’m loving this.
The stand was awarded a Silver Gilt medal, of which we are all very proud.
My thanks to Steve Edney and Lou Dowle for the collaboration.
Lenham Tithe Barn
The Tithe Barn is a magnificent space for exhibitions, and over the years the organising team, all local artists, has built up a tradition of top quality work. Click any image for a larger picture.
Hosted by Pilgrims Way Art Group, the 25th summer exhibition was open from 19th – 29th May.
Delamore Arts 2023
Delamore’s annual sculpture and art exhibition is one of the high-points of my year. In a wonderful country house and garden tucked under the edge of Dartmoor, they attract leading sculptors and artists from all over the country, and the work seen is different every year. It is worth making a special trip to visit. Open for the whole of May.
2022
Fire and Iron Gallery, Leatherhead – a superb collection of metalcraft sculpture, open all year.
Delamore Arts 2022, Devon, in May
At Pashley Manor we were pleased to be able to return to a full programme for the year, including the Tulip Festival and ‘Sculpture in Particular’.
Sussex Prairie Garden, near Brighton, including their Hand-Made Fair in July and the Unusual Plants Fair in September.
Lovely’s Gallery , Northdown Road, Cliftonville, Margate – open all year
Godinton House and Gardens, Ashford
For three weeks from late July to mid August, this impressive but comfortable country house hosted a sculpture exhibition around the extensive gardens, of brilliant and varied original work. The formal gardens, kitchen garden, long pond, and wild garden and lake provided a variety of settings.
Herstmonceux Castle – a new venue for 2022
Many people know Herstmonceux in Sussex as the site the Royal Greenwich Observatory removed to, when Greenwich was becoming light- and smog-polluted in the 1950s, and which is still open for educational visits and as a science centre. However, the observatory buildings were simply taking advantage of spare space within the extensive estate of Herstmonceux castle.
I was invited to contribute some sculptural interest to the very extensive gardens, and what an opportunity it presents. It is a dramatic setting, with varied garden spaces, plus the impressive moat.
2021
Godinton House and Gardens, Ashford
For three weeks from late July to mid August, this impressive but comfortable country house hosted a sculpture exhibition around the extensive gardens, of brilliant and varied original work. The formal gardens, kitchen garden, long pond, and wild garden and lake provided a variety of settings.
Riverhill Himalayan Gardens, Sevenoaks
A welcome second appearance at Riverhill Himalayan Gardens in 2021, where I was pleased to have good sales, and meet again some of my previous patrons from other venues. It’s very gratifying to have your work recognised – “Did you exhibit at XYZ last year?” – and know you’ve made an impression.
The gardens are imaginatively laid out on steep hillside, with great views and several spectacular “Oh Wow!” moments.
“Under the Rainbow” at Bluewater
This was a brilliant new venture set up in response to the turmoil of the coronavirus disruption of the previous eighteen months. With big-name high-street firms collapsing, the Bluewater management did not want to have units standing empty – so they offered a large store-space for a recovery-themed exhibition.
Most of the artists had never exhibited in public before, but the resultant display was astounding. The exhibition was a great success. All credit to the organising team, and to Bluewater management for their support. I was one of four guest sculptors invited to add some 3-D structure to what would otherwise have been all painting and drawing.
Fire and Iron Gallery, Leatherhead – a superb collection of metalcraft sculpture, open all year.
Delamore Arts 2021, Devon, in May
At Pashley Manor the Tulip Festival and ‘Sculpture in Particular’ events could not run in 2021, but the gardens were open for most of the season.
Sussex Prairie Garden, near Brighton, including their Hand-Made Fair in July and the Unusual Plants Fair in September.
Lovely’s Gallery , Northdown Road, Cliftonville, Margate – open all year
2020: the coronavirus crisis year
There were no exhibitions, no open gardens, and galleries were all closed, for the greater part of the year. My thanks (and those of all working artists and sculptors) go to those galleries and gardens which managed nonetheless to preserve some sort of shop-window and sales presence online – like Delamore Arts, and the Fire and Iron gallery at Leatherhead; and we must acknowledge the funding received from the Government, without which survival would have been impossible.
Pashley Manor and Sussex Prairie Gardens did manage to open for parts of the year, but even then restrictions like advance booking requirements, no coach travel, and social distancing, combined to reduce visitor numbers. One bright spot was my first visit to Riverhill Himalayan Gardens at Sevenoaks – see the 2021 events above, for more details of that venue.
I was also very fortunate to have spent most of December, January and February working with my Dad to build the new website which you are now viewing. As the series of lockdowns kept people at home, visits to the website soared, and my existing customers and new customers between them provided enough sales to keep Copper Creatures thriving. Thank you to everyone who sent good wishes, told friends about the website, or purchased sculptures during this difficult time.
2019
Open Studios events
Held two or three times in the year, on dates notified to those on my mailing list – contact me at Emily@CopperCreatures.co.uk if you would like to be included. Other craft workers and artists in our little community are also open to visit.
Delamore Arts 2019, Devon, in May
Sussex Prairie Garden, near Brighton, including their Hand-Made Fair in July and the Unusual Plants Fair in September.
Godinton House and Gardens is an impressive but comfortable country house, and hosts a sculpture exhibition around the extensive gardens, of brilliant and varied original work. The formal gardens, kitchen garden, long pond, and wild garden and lake provided a variety of settings. This was my first time at Godinton, but I intend it not to be the last.
Lenham Tithe Barn Pilgrim’s Way Artists: May 17th to 27th saw an annual art, pottery and sculpture exhibition of the very highest quality in this lovely old barn. I have exhibited here before, but not for many years.
Pashley Manor, near Ticehurst in East Sussex, including the Tulip festival, Sculpture in Particular, summer-long exhibition, and Christmas Gifts Shop
Fire and Iron Gallery, Leatherhead – open all year
Lovely’s Gallery , Northdown Road, Cliftonville, Margate – open all year
Gallery Kuskovu, Prague
2018
Fire and Iron Gallery, Leatherhead – open all year
Pashley Manor, near Ticehurst in East Sussex, including the Tulip festival, Sculpture in Particular, summer-long exhibition, and Christmas Gifts Shop
Delamore Arts 2018, Devon, in May
Sussex Prairie Garden, near Brighton, including their Hand-Made Fair in July and the Unusual Plants Fair in September
Gallery Kuskovu, Prague
Sir Harold Hillier Gardens (RHS), Romsey near Winchester
2017
Fire and Iron Gallery, Leatherhead – open all year
Pashley Manor, near Ticehurst in East Sussex, including the Tulip festival, Sculpture in Particular, summer-long exhibition, and Christmas Gifts Shop
Delamore Arts 2017, Devon, in May
BEAUTY AND THE COPPER BEASTS exhibition, 20th October – 4th November at Lovely’s Gallery, 248 Northdown Road Cliftonville, Margate.
Sussex Prairie Garden, near Brighton, including their Hand-Made Fair in June and the Unusual Plants Fair in September
Sir Harold Hillier Gardens (RHS), Romsey near Winchester: exhibiting for the first time, very successfully, in this lovely setting.
Gallery Kuskovu, Prague
Dahlia Festival, at The Salutation, Sandwich – Head Gardener Steve Edney hosted a weekend plant festival featuring the set of nine dahlia genotypes commissioned from Emily.
RHS Rosemoor Winter Exhibition, 19 November 2016 – 19 February 2017 at Great Torrington, North Devon. Sixty-five acres of beautifully-laid out gardens, formal and informal, to explore; with something of interest in every season, enhanced during the winter with their well-established sculpture exhibition.
2016
Fire and Iron Gallery, Leatherhead – open all year
Pashley Manor, near Ticehurst in East Sussex, including the Tulip festival, Sculpture in Particular, summer-long exhibition, and Christmas Gifts Shop
Delamore Arts 2016, Devon, in May
Sussex Prairie Garden, at Henfield near Brighton, exhibiting for the first time this year: the friendliest gardens you could wish for. It’s like someone’s back garden just grew out of control, eating up the fields behind with every lovely idea you can imagine.
West End House, Smarden in Kent
Dunlin and Diver, High Street, Deal
Lovely’s Gallery , Northdown Road, Cliftonville, Margate
Savill Gardens, Windsor Great Park (“Britain’s finest ornamental gardens”) – for the Autumn Sculpture Exhibition, September 3rd to November 19th. It was brilliant!
2015
Pashley Manor, Ticehurst, East Sussex
Delamore House nr Ivybridge, Devon
Marks Hall Gardens and Arboretum, Coggeshall, Essex Summer Exhibition from 1st – 30th August 2015, at which I was happy to be exhibiting.
Lovely’s Gallery , Northdown Road, Cliftonville, Margate – a solo exhibition from 11th- 24th October, where we really pulled the stops out – taking over the whole of their extensive upstairs gallery.
Fire and Iron Gallery, Leatherhead, from 28th October to mid November – solo exhibition in their gallery room.
2014 including
Doddington Hall, Lincoln
2013 including
Coughton Court, National Trust, at Alcester, Warwickshire
Surrey Sculpture Park, Churt near Farnham
2012 including
The Reg Taylor Garden Centre, Nottingham
2011 including
Leeds Castle Homes and Gardens Weekend, 21-22 May 2011 ME17 1PL; extensive craft and arts stalls, excellent refreshments, and many other attractions at England’s most beautiful castle.
The Sculpture Fortnight, Pashley Manor, Ticehurst, 21-30 May TN5 7HE
Finchcock’s Garden Fair and Music Festival, 29-30 May TN17 1HH; they say this “promises to be a treasure trove for gardeners and those searching for something a little different for the ‘outside space’ or even an unusual gift”.
Little Gardens of Sandwich 2011, Sunday 5th June. A delightful annual event, with different gardens open each year; enjoy a glimpse behind the scenes in the country’s best-preserved medieval town, and spot the sculptures along the way. Very good cream teas.
Chislet Country Fair, Saturday 25th June; the whole village gives itself over to this surprisingly varied and very pleasant traditional rural day. Music, arts, plants, side-show attractions, rides, a beer tent and very good burgers. Could anyone ask for more?
Barfreston Art Exhibition, Barfreston Court Barn, 1-3 July; a strong collection of very significant art and sculpture. Be ready to be impressed.
River Country Fair, River near Dover, Sunday 10th July
Stelling Minnis Windmill Fete, Saturday 16th July
Sculpture in the Sanctuary, Hill Farm Nursery, Normanton, Nottinghamshire, from 23rd July to 29th August 2011; NG25 0PR. My venture north for this year. Last year I found a very good sculpture garden near Coventry; this year I am hoping that Nottingham will be as good!
Dover Animal Mania in the Park, Pencester Gardens Dover, 30 July
Rye Country Fayre and Horse and Dog Show, Saturday 20th August. As well as the horses and dogs, this also includes arts and crafts stalls, a collection of historic cars, and rides for children and adventurous adults. A well-established and well-organised event that draws people from near and far.
Aldington Soapbox Derby and Craft Market, Monday 29 August
Leeds Castle Balloons and Bentleys Weekend, 3-4 September;ME17 1PL. Lots of activities, craft marquees.
East Kent Ploughing Match, Lees Court Farm, Badlesmere, September 28th
Leeds Castle Festive Fair, 19-20 November. Plenty of activities and a chance to find some striking and unusual Christmas presents.
Westwood Cross Christmas Market; at the Westwood Cross shopping mall in Thanet, a surprise last-minute invitation to participate.
2010 including
Outside Art, Russel’s Gardens Coventry – a ‘secret quarry garden’ – June 12-27, 2010.
2000 – 2010
Nettlestead Place, 15th-22nd May 2009
A beautiful and very old house, in wonderful rambling gardens with surprising views opening up at every turn. In this lovely setting there is a sculpture exhibition, setting pieces imaginatively and sensitively in the landscape. I was delighted to find an open hilltop lawn for the mare and foal, a lakeside lurking-place for the crocodile and octopus, a willow island retreat for my family of otters (new work), and an open wild flower meadow where five big sunflowers could strut their stuff. Outside the kitchen door five hens and two cockerels (one a new design) patrolled, as if looking for crumbs from the refreshment tables. All this in the company of some very classy work by a dozen other sculptors; there was a great deal to see.
I’m delighted to say the whole event was a brilliant success, both for the organisers and for me personally.
St Nicholas Church, Ash – May Day bank holiday annual exhibition by local artists, each year since 2003
‘Good Morning’ (Dobre Rano) show on Czech TV covered Emily’s work in Galery KusKovu, Prague
Ivana Spicakova, interviewed for the
show, gave a prominent mention of Emily’s work, and an autumn leaf,
mistletoe, and the wild boar were seen.
Crafty Fair at St Peter’s Church, Sandwich, Saturday June 6th 2009; a really well-organised traditional Craft Fair.
Little Gardens of Sandwich, Sunday 7th June, 2009. A delighful annual event, but with different gardens this year; enjoy a glimpse behind the scenes in the country’s best-preserved medieval town, and spot the sculptures along the way. Superb cream teas!
(March – August 2009: the Bear commission)
Chislet Fair, Saturday June 27th 2009.
Barfreston Court Barn Art Exhibition, on 3rd – 5th July 2009
East Kent Ploughing Match, Merton Farm, Merton Lane Canterbury, on September 30th 2009.
Great Comp Garden Show, Borough Green, August 2008.
Sunday 8th June 2008: the Little Gardens of Sandwich. A wonderful chance to peep behind the garden gate at some real hidden gems, with a bit of sculpture thrown in.
Artform at St Peter’s Church, Sandwich, late May bank holiday annually from 2004 to 2008.
Thursday 28th February – Tuesday 4th March 2008: at The Horsebridge Centre, Horsebridge Road Whitstable. This was an exhibion by members of Artform (Theresa Gaston St John, Mandy Troughton and Emily Stone) with guest artists Janet Cook, Clare Tindall and Lauren Murduck.
(Kent International Hotel commission, November 2007)
2007 and earlier
Hardy Plants Society at Goodnestone House, July 2007
Sandwich Bites Festival, May 2007
Marlowe Theatre Corridor Arts, Canterbury, February 2007
Deal Library, Autumn leaves, October 2006
Solo Exhibition , St Peters Church Sandwich, September 2006
East Kent Ploughing Match, Adisham, September 2006
ArtFest, St Mary’s Church, Wingham, August 2006
Art and Jazz in the Garden, Upstreet, August 2006
Drawn by Nature, Worth Village Hall, with John Hollyer and Norman McCanch, August 2006
Garden Sculpture Exhibition, Old Chapel Gallery, Pembridge, Herefordshire, May 2006
(Wild boar comission, June 2006)
The Old Tithe Barn, Lenham, May 2006
Queen’s Inn, Hawkhurst, “Artshow”, April 2006
Orchard House Arts Weekend, Ham Street, April 2006
KCC County Hall, “By Hand 7” Maidstone, Annual Art and Craft Exhibition, December 2005
St Peter’s Church, Crocodiles in Canterbury, October 2004
Working Exhibition, Worth Plant Centre, August 2004
‘Art and Soul‘ local open studios and workshops, Deal – Sandwich and villages, May-June 2004
Stag and Doe commission – October 2003; article in “The Times” Home and Garden section, October 22 2004
Chromos Gallery, Locus Arts “Home” exhibition, Canterbury Festival, October 2003
Bramling Village Fayre, September 2003 and 2006
Bay Art Gallery, Herne Bay, Locus Arts “Bijou”, August 2003
St Peter’s Churchyard Canterbury, Mare and Foal, July-October 2003
Neville Pundole Gallery, Canterbury, May-August 2003
Crabble Corn Mill, Dover, Locus Arts, April 2003
The Marlowe Centre, Christ Church College Canterbury, Locus Arts February 2003
Chromos Gallery, Canterbury, Locus Arts group exhibition, October 2002
Workshop and Gallery opening, Worth Plant Centre, 11th May 2002
The Stable Gallery, Weston-under-Penyard, Herefordshire, September 2002
Rogues’ Gallery, Hay-on-Wye, May-June 2002
KIAD, Foundation course final exhibition, June 2000 (first prize)
