Rutter and Bennett

Christopher Rutter was born in 1961 at Catterick, Yorkshire. He trained at Maidstone School of Art (1980-81); Wimbledon School of Art (1981-82); the City and Guilds of London (1983-86), where he studied sculpture; and at the University of East London (1994-96), where he took an MA in art and architecture.

Evelyn Bennett was born in 1964 at Gosport, Hampshire and studied printed textiles at both Winchester School of Art (1984-87) and the Royal College of Art (1987-89).

Rutter and Bennett have worked in collaboration on sculptures since 1994, having respectively pursued independent careers in the fields of sculpture and architectural stone carving, and textile and ceramic design. Working together in a truly democratic manner has, for these artists, had the effect of eliminating egocentricity in their thinking and has assisted creative problem-solving. Theirs is a true partnership of complementary ideas, skills and sensibilities which results in sculptures that are highly individual as well as colourful and accessible.

The circus, which has engaged the interest of artists as diverse as Degas, Calder and even Henry Moore in some of his graphic works, has been the source of many dynamic and joyful sculptures by Rutter and Bennett. Colours of the sweet jar and dressing-up box are applied evenly to the surface of their sculptures and work entirely in harmony with the form. They also embrace other subjects - plants, animals, and marine life - in pieces which exhibit joie de vivre to delight and transport us away from the humdrum of everyday life. Their work is close in some characteristics to that of the French artist Niki de Saint Phalle, although their subject-matter overlaps only slightly.

Rutter and Bennett live and work in England & Sweden.