British Sculpture in the 21st Century

Paul Vanstone: Biography

Paul Vanstone

Paul Vanstone studied sculpture at St. Martins School of Art before completing an MFA in sculpture at the Royal College of Art, from which he graduated in 1993.

Following his graduation Vanstone worked in Italy at the traditional marble carving studios near the famous Carrara quarries. He also spent time working in Berlin and has travelled to Rajasthan to learn India's traditional marble carving techniques. On his return to the UK, and for the next five years, Vanstone became an assistant to leading British sculptor, Anish Kapoor. Consequently, works carved by Vanstone on Kapoor's behalf have been exhibited at world leading galleries, including the Tate Modern, London.

Since then Paul has shown his work at a number of major galleries in London, including the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum, as well as galleries and sculpture gardens throughout the UK. He has gained a number of prestigious awards and commissions, among them being the Henry Moore Award (1991) and the Lady Carrington Sculpture Garden commission (1991 and 1996).

Vanstone is preoccupied with marble and the way in which its hardness and light reflecting qualities can be transformed to depict the curves of the human body and/or the delicacy or covering cloth. His technique and focus upon quality and finish draw upon the traditions of classical sculpture. However, his images and influences reflect the twenty-first century's passion for the curvaceous art design and architecture of Zaha Hadid, whilst also paying tribute to the mainstay of modern British sculpture, Henry Moore.