ONE TO WATCH
Sculptor Ben Russell
Since falling for the charms of stone, sculptor Ben Russell has used traditional skills to produce extraordinary pieces that celebrate his love of the grown world
Q Can you tell us a little bit about your background?
I started out at Weymouth College in my home county of Dorset where I trained in architectural stonework and conservation. After this I moved on to City & Guilds of London Art School and trained as an architectural stone carver. This led to work on buildings and locations like the Albert Memorial in Hyde Park, Highgate Cemetery, Kew Palace and the Tower of London. I moved back to Dorset in 2017 to focus on my own work.
Q Where do you look to for inspiration?
The grown world. Mainly unspoilt woodlands within the rolling hills of Dorset. I spent a lot of time in these places growing up, as a connection to nature has always been important to me. I now find myself in these spaces again although my rescue lurcher Willie now joins me too.
Q What techniques and equipment do you use?
My training involved the construction of clay models, which were then cast in plaster and we would go on to copy this model painstakingly in stone. With my own work I find myself moving away from this method. I now choose to work directly into the stone as this feels more expressive. You can make mistakes this way, but mistakes are part of the process and quite often lead me in directions I never would have thought to pursue. I use power tools to rough out the forms usually, but try to work using traditional tools like a hammer and chisel wherever possible. This helps me connect with the stone and the experience feels more personal somehow.
Q How has your work evolved?
I started out simply wanting to celebrate the grown world in any way I could, but as time has gone on my pieces have become more personal in nature. My most recent work on roots and mycelium are really as much about my mind and mental health as they are explorations of the forms that inspire me. This has become an important part of my process now as I use my artwork to help nourish my mental well-being and in turn my work feels more substantial and meaningful.
Q Tell us about your studio.
I have two old cow barns either side of a yard on a farm in West Dorset. One barn is currently used for storage of finished work and gets used as a photography studio from time to time. The other is where I do the hand carving and finishing. All the really messy work is carried out in the yard or under a lean-to when it’s raining.
Q What has been your favourite project so far?
My solo show at Hignell Gallery
[an installation with stone cacti in collaboration with the Conservatory Archives] was a real highlight. It got such a great reception and was the first time I ever focused all my time on my own sculpture, marking a real turning point for me.
Q What work is in the pipeline?
I’m excited to be part of On Form sculpture again. It’s usually spread around the beautiful house and grounds at Asthall Manor in Burford, but due to Covid-19 will now be an online exhibition starting in June. I also have a public art commission approaching, which will be installed on the seafront of the town in which I first started my training in stonework.
Q Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to pursue a career as a sculptor?
It’s so tempting to buy some power tools and just go your own way, but without allowing your roots to establish properly you aren’t going to be growing in your desired direction very fast. My training and site experience adds up to 10 years combined, so I would say be humble and learn your material inside out.
Q If you weren’t a sculptor, what would be your plan B?
I was torn between training in stone or stop-motion animation so life could have been quite different and much less dusty if I had gone down that route.
“I USE MY ARTWORK TO HELP NOURISH MY MENTAL WELL-BEING AND IN TURN MY WORK FEELS MORE SUBSTANTIAL AND MEANINGFUL”