Giles Penny

7 March to 2 April 2011



Giles Penny has developed his sculptural work from a two dimensional background having been trained in formal painting. It is interesting to see that most of his ideas usually translate into an abstracted version of the human form. He conveys emotions and feelings through the visual use of the figure, it becomes a vehicle for his expression and often portrays an innocent humorous quality. Ideas initiated in painting or lithography are often developed at a later stage into sculpture, or vice versa. His fondest way of working is in relief, which he believes is half way between sculpture and painting. The sculpture is made at Giles studio in the countryside; he constructs the large-scale pieces in a greenhouse where there is an excellent excess of light. The larger works are created using a polystyrene former that is carved and covered with expanded mesh; this forms the basis for application of clay or plaster. Rubber or plaster moulds are then taken from the original for casting in to the finished metal. Small works are formed on a steel and wire armature built up with clay or plaster and then cast from a mould in the same way. Giles often patinates the pieces himself, as he likes to control the finished product. He has historically produced stone carvings and bronzes but in the last couple of years he has become interested in other media including steel, polished aluminum and slip cast ceramics. 1978-79 Studied at the Heatherley School of Fine Art, London 1980 Studied at Bournemouth and Poole College of Art 1981-84 Studied at Newport College of Art, South Wales Public Commissions: 2009 'Rise and Shine' for BBC White City 2007 'Man in the Wind' for P&O cruisliner; Ventura 2007 ‘Signalman’ at Bluebrick development, Wolverhampton, for Whitbread Group plc. 2004 ‘Man And Animal’, Portishead Quays, Bristol, for Crest Nicholson 2004 ‘Flying Woman’ steel, Waitrose supermarket, Newbury, for Discovery Properties Ltd. 2001 ‘Man and Globe’, Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth Waterfront Development, for Berkeley Festival Company 2000 ‘Man and Ball’, Centrepiece for Housing development, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, for Crest Homes Ltd. 1999 Six large bronze relief panels ‘Past and Present’ – Golden Square, London, for Norwich Union Insurance Company Ltd. 1999 ‘Two Men on a Bench’ and ‘Man With Arms Open’ Cabot Square, Canary Wharf London, for Canary Wharf Group plc. 1995 ‘Noah in Boat’, Centrepiece for a lake at Co-operative Headquarters, Rochdale, Lancashire, for Co-operative Retail Services Ltd. 1990 A Collection of 23 large sculptures for the Body Shop Headquarters, West Sussex
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