lucy kinsella

A desire for being with, observing and drawing animals has been with me from my earliest memory, so it comes as no surprise then that as a professional artist I am an animalier. My mother recalls my rather alarming childhood habit of approaching dogs, ostensibly to say hello, but instead prising open the jaws to inspect the inner workings of their mouths!

Growing up in rural Cambridgeshire, my country childhood seemed quite unrestricted by today`s standards. Weekends and holidays were mostly spent outdoors exploring, building dens, walking dogs and cadging rides from friends lucky enough to have ponies. I even recall hanging out at the local abattoir and being allowed to watch the process from start to finish (something that could never happen today). Macabre as this might seem, I found the whole procedure fascinating and it set in motion my lifelong interest in anatomy.

I was keen to leave the confines of school, art being the only subject I excelled in: I did so as soon as I was able, deciding on farming as a career. The subsequent two years spent in the profession put me off for life! – although I do remain committed to compassionate animal husbandry and ethical farming.

There followed a few years in business in London which was good fun but ultimately unfulfilling. I had always continued to draw and paint and it was a friend who suggested that this was perhaps where my vocation lay. So it was that I found myself on an art foundation course where I met the remarkable Joe Frenzy, an ex jockey from Transylvania (you couldn`t make it up!) His lessons were a revelation. Joe unlocked the power and mystery of colour, composition and the wonders of life drawing – I loved it and realised I`d found my path.

Following on from this I decided on a fine arts sculpture degree, studying under the tutelage of two talented practising sculptors, Dave Tarver and John McGill. Dave instilled the value of direct, observational drawing, often quoting Degas Drawing is not the form; it is the way of seeing the form. From John I gained an appreciation for the traditional techniques and materials of sculpting and, whilst encouraging me to be forward looking, he would also reference back to past masters; Rodin, Michelangelo and the sculptures of ancient Greece and Rome.

After graduating I established my own studio and my real apprenticeship began at this point. I focused on animals as my subject matter and experimented with materials including wax, clay, plaster and wire. I was beginning to find my voice as a sculptor.

I now live and work in Oxford. Animals and figurative sculpture and drawing remain at the core of my practice.