Sally Arnup (15 July 1930 – 22 December 2015)[1] was an English sculptor known for her depictions of animals.[5] Her studios were located at Holtby, a village near York.[6]

Sally Arnup
FRBS ARCA
Born
Sally Robina Baynton Williams[1]

(1930-07-15)15 July 1930
London, England[2]
Died22 December 2015(2015-12-22) (aged 85)
York, England
Resting placeHoly Trinity Church, Holtby, Yorkshire[1]
NationalityBritish
Education
  • Kingston School of Art
  • Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts
  • Royal College of Art
Known forSculpture
SpouseMick Arnup (m. 1953–2008; his death)[3][4]

Biography

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Frisian Calf, King's Manor, by Sally Arnup
 
Irish Wolfhound, York Art Gallery, by Sally Arnup

Arnup was born in London and began studying at the Kingston School of Art at the age of thirteen.[7] She later studied at Camberwell College of Arts and the Royal College of Art where she was taught by both Frank Dobson and John Skeaping.[8][9] In 1955 she won the Royal Society of British Sculptors' Feodora Gleichen Award for women artists.[10] From 1958 to 1972 Arnup was the Head of Sculpture at York College of Art.[7] Her husband Mick Arnup also taught art at the college.[9] Both Sally Arnup and her husband retired from teaching in 1974 to focus on their artistic careers.[11]

Artworks

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Arnup's speciality as an artist was for bronze animal sculptures, often created with the live animal present.[8] Among Arnup's most notable commissions was a work for the Duke of Edinburgh’s 80th Birthday, depicting his Fell Pony Storm.[5] In 1971 she cast a silver leopard which was presented to HM Queen Elizabeth II by the City of York.[8] A life-sized sculpture of an Irish Wolfhound by Arnup was posthumously donated to the York Art Gallery in 2017.[9] She regularly exhibited at the Royal Academy in London, with the Royal Society of British Artists, with the Royal Scottish Academy and at the Paris Salon.[8] In 1968 the University of York hosted a solo exhibition of her work as did Gainsborough House in Suffolk during 1998.[10] The Arnup Studio where both Sally and Mick Arnup worked, was opened to the public in 2011 as part of York Open Studios.[12]

Death

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In 2015 at the age of 85, Arnup suffered a stroke while modelling a horse for a large scale sculpture at stables near Thirsk.[6] She later died in York Hospital from septicaemia.[6]

Works in collections

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Title Year Medium Gallery no. Gallery Location
Donkey Fowl 1980–1981 bronze on green marble YORAG : 1501 York Art Gallery York, England
Male Nude 1970–1987 bronze YORAG : 1421 York Art Gallery York, England
Ram's Head c.1975 bronze S155 Beecroft Art Gallery Southend-on-Sea, England
Wall Lizard 1975–1985 bronze YORAG : 1422 York Art Gallery York, England

References

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  1. ^ a b c "We have details today about the funeral for Sally Arnup". Pyramid Gallery. January 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  2. ^ Willis, Joe (20 November 2019). "Work by celebrated sculptor to go on display in Leyburn". Richmondshire Today. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  3. ^ Hutchinson, Charles (6 July 2017). "Final exhibition and sale of Sally and Mick Arnup's work on show at The Studios in Holtby". York Press. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Upcoming Highlights of Northern Art". Tennants Auctioneers. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  5. ^ a b The Blake Gallery. "Sally Arnup". www.blakegallery.com. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  6. ^ a b c Mark Foster (28 December 2015). "Death of renowned animal artist". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Sally Arnup". 108 Fine Art. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  8. ^ a b c d David Buckman (2006). Artists in Britain Since 1945 Vol 1, A to L. Art Dictionaries Ltd. ISBN 0-953260-95-X.
  9. ^ a b c Mike Laycock (13 July 2017). "Sculpture by the late Sally Arnup gifted to York Art Gallery". York Press. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  10. ^ a b Alan Windsor (2003). British Sculptors of the Twentieth Century. Ashgate. ISBN 1-85928-4566.
  11. ^ "Sally Arnup". HerStoryYork. 9 February 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  12. ^ "Still life? not for this artist". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk. 7 March 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2019.