TANYA RUSSELL
Tanya Russell has become well known over the last 30 years for her life-like and vibrant animal sculptures. For Tanya her practice is not only about capturing the animals she sculpts with marks and movement. It’s about our relationships with those animals and their welfare.
Tanya apprenticed for 7 years with her parents, sculptors Lorne McKean FRBS and Edwin Russell FRBS and after practicing as a sculptor for a number of years, she founded The Art Academy in London Bridge, now a degree validated and thriving art college. She is also the author of ‘Modelling and Sculpting the Figure’. Tanya has completed many public and private commissions nationally and internationally, including 6 large public commissions in London. Tanya exhibits in gardens and galleries across the country.
Many of Tanya’s animal sculptures have been sculpted to raise money for animal and welfare charities. She has volunteered with a number of charities, where she has helped care for rescued wildlife and rehomed dogs in need. Now 10 percent of proceeds from all Tanya’s sales go to animal charities.
“I’m always asking myself, how can my artwork better the lives of animals? How can I use my art to explore our understanding of nature and the animals we live alongside.”
Exhibitions and Shows:
Pashley Manor Gardens - 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016
Adrian Hill Fine Art Gallery (Holt & Stamford) - 2022, 2021
Cotswolds Sculpture Park - 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018
Lion Street Gallery - 2022, 2021, 2020
The Sculpture Park - 2022, 2021, 2020
Moorwood Gallery - 2022
Doddington - 2022
Beaulie - 2021
Wey Gallery - 2020, 2019
Wildlife Artist of the Year show, Mall Galleries - 2019, 2018
RHS Chelsea Flow Show 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015
RHS Hampton Court Show 2019, 2018, 2017
RHS Chatsworth Show 2018, 2017
RHS Cardiff Show 2018, 2017
Court Robert Arts - 2020, 2019, 2018
Sister Gallery - 2018, 2017
Sculpture in the Vineyard - 2018
Wadham Trading Company - 2018
Elemental Sculpture Park - 2017
Countryfile Live Show - 2017, 2016
The Art of the Species Exhibition, London - 2016
Merchant Taylors Hall, London - 2017, 2015
Art in Action Show - 2016,1993-2005
KPMG Headquarters, Canary Wharf - 2015
¿Progression? exhibition, Menier Gallery 2015
Previously:
London Stock Exchange;
Cadogan Gallery, Cadogan Sq;
Mall Galleries, special hanging award;
Wintershal Gallery;
Sheer Gallery;
Battersea London Contemporary Art Fair;
Business Design Centre, Exhibition.
Public Commissions:
'Space for Nature Spiral' & 'Swooping Housemartins', London;
Beth Arle's memorial garden, Oregon;
‘Street Cat Named Bob Tribute', London;
‘Minerva’ for Minerva plc, Wigmore Street, London;
‘Justice’ for The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, London;
‘Stag’ for Stag Lodge, Wimbledon;
‘Miranda’ for Girls School, Niagra, Canada;
Memorial Sculpture, Cat Sundial, St Margarets Hospital, London;
‘Tiger’ for Tobacco Dock Shopping Centre, London;
Cast iron play sculptures, Miltern Keynes Playground;
Ornamental weather vanes for Brookbrae Ltd;
‘Cranes’ for Atrium, St Catherines Dock, London;
Fox and Cub Plaque for Hydestile Wildlife Hospital, Godalming.
Large Studio Commissions:
25ft Goddess Flora, Rotterdam;
History of London’ Bronze panels & Sundial, Tower Hill;
5m Bronze Sundial, Parliament Square, Dubai;
Celebration of Life’ relief panels, Horsham.
Work in the collections of:
Waterperry Gardens;
Jeremy Sinclair CBE;
Sir Roy Gardener;
Dame Merle Park;
Countess Pillet-Will;
Lady Joanna White.
Career:
Founder and Principal of The Art Academy between 1999 and 2017;
Sculpture Tutor and Lecturer during that period, and since;
Director of World Heartbeat Music Academy;
Director of Southbank Mosaics;
Invited speaker for multiple societies, including the Society of Women Artists.
Education:
7 year apprenticeship under my parents, Lorne McKean FRBS, and Edwin Russell FRBS