For 70 years Sally Arnup dedicated herself to her art, gaining a reputation as one of the finest figurative sculptors working in bronze. The first exhibition of her work at 108 Fine Art and the publication of a major catalogue, aimed to provide an insight into the development and beauty of one of England’s most widely admired and respected sculptors of wildlife and sporting subjects.

Born in London Sally Arnup (nee Baynton Williams) initially left school at the age of 13 to train at Kingston Art College, where she was taught by H Wilson Parker (designer of the ‘Wren’ farthing). She then spent a year at Camberwell College of Art where she was taught by Dr Karel Vogel, before studying at the Royal College of Art where her tutors included Frank Dobson and John Skeaping.

In 1953 she married the artist Mick Arnup and they eventually settled near York where she became head of sculpture at York College of Art 1958 – 72.

She has exhibited at The Royal Academy, Royal Society of Artists and at the Royal Society of British Artists. She was also made a fellow of the Royal Society of British Sculptors.

Her work is held in many public and private collections including York City Art Gallery, and The Royal Collection. In 1971 she was commissioned to make and cast a silver leopard presented to Her Majesty The Queen, by The City of York.

With a well established national and international reputation Sally always works directly from her subject. She is not concerned just with simple rendering of appearance, but with the very character and nature of the individual creatures. She interprets her direct study according to the final material, usually modelling for her preferred medium of lost-wax cast bronze, which she handles with understanding. Always making the waxes herself, she gains great control and the best foundry results.

Works by Sally Arnup