- Graham Ibbeson -

sculptor | artist

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The Artists Story ...

Born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire Graham Ibbeson (known as the “The People's Sculptor”) has been a professional sculptor since graduating from the Royal College of Art in 1978.

He has developed an international reputation exhibiting in Galleries throughout Europe, the USA, and Asia. Ibbeson’s ability to capture the essence of a character with warmth and humanity sets him apart from many other sculptors.

Through his commissions and public work (over 30 public sculptures), Ibbeson has helped regenerate whole areas of cities and towns across the UK. Graham’s Laurel & Hardy (unveiled in Ulverston, Cumbria in April 2009) has already increased visitor numbers by 50% in less than a year according to the Ulverston tourism office, and his Eric Morecambe (unveiled by Her Majesty the Queen in 1999) has helped reshape the resort of Morecambe, bringing in tens of millions of pounds through extra visitor numbers (around a million pound in extra revenue from car parking fees was recorded within the first year).

He brings an element of understanding to his portraiture that’s deeper than just a likeness, his sculptures have soul, what he gives us is a unique glimpse into the characters of our peers and idols through his remarkable work, and a lasting legacy as the People’s Sculptor. Brian Elliott (Author).

Bronze Public Commissions

NORTHAMPTON SCULPTURE - 4metre high bronze on Westmorland Slate

THOMAS CHIPPENDALE - Otley, Yorkshire - 7ft 6ins bronze on Yorkstone

THE JIM MACFARLANE MEMORIAL SCULPTURE - Conisbrough, Yorkshire - 2 life-size bronze figures

SCALES OF JUSTICE - Middlesbrough - 3 life-size figures on Yorkstone

MINERS MEMORIAL - Barnsley, Yorkshire - 3 life-size figures on granite)

A WIFE ON THE OCEAN WAVES - Cardiff - Bronze life-size family

THE FAIR MAID OF PERTH - Perth, Scotland - life-size bronze figure

WILLIAM WEBB ELLIS - Rugby - 8ft bronze on Yorkstone

KATE - Chesterfield - Life-size bronze

RUN RUN RUNAWAY - Chesterfield - 2metre high bronze

TIMOTHY HACKWORTH - Shildon, Co Durham - Life-size bronze on Yorkstone

ERIC MORECAMBE - Morecambe, Lancs - A little above life-size figure in bronze

THE LEEDS MILLENNIUM SCULPTURE - 5 metre high Sculpture

THE SPIRIT OF JARROW - Jarrow, Tyneside - 5 life-size bronze figures on stainless steel

CARY GRANT - Bristol - Life-size bronze

REDCAR PANELS - Redcar, Cleveland - Three 7 mtr long by 3.5mtr wide panels in stainless steel and bronze 

PETER ROBINSON - Castlereagh Town Hall - life-size bronze portrait

HUCKNALL MINERS MEMORIAL - Hucknall, Nottingham - twice life-size miner on 12 ft miners lamp in bronze

SOUTH KIRKBY MINER - For South Kirkby & Moorthorpe Town Council - life-size bronze miner

WILLIAM WEBB ELLIS - for Menton, France - 4ft bronze figure commissioned as part of the 2008 Rugby world Cup

BENNY HILL - for Southampton life-figure in bronze - Work in progress  

LES DAWSON - for Lytham St Annes over life-size figure in bronze

LAUREL & HARDY - for Ulverston, Cumbria)(life-size bronze figures)   

HAROLD (DICKIE) BIRD - for Barnsley - over life-size bronze figure

FRED TRUEMAN - for Skipton - over life-size figure in bronze

2012 OLYMPIC HADLEIGH SCULPTURE - a 5mtr high sculpture to commemorate The London 2012 Olympic Mountain Biking Competition

DON REVIE - for Leeds United(8ft bronze portrait

    DAVID WHITFIELD - for Kingston upon Hull - life-size bronze portrait

THE CELEBRATION - West Bromwich - 3 1.25 life-size bronze portraits Work in progress

ARTHUR WHARTON - Rotherham - 3.5mtr high bronze Work in progress

OAKS MEMORIAL - Barnsley - 3.5mtr high bronze - Work in progress     

MORECAMBE & WISE - Blackpool -  1.25 life-size portrait in fibreglass

LAURIE CUNNINGHAM - Waltham Forest - 1.25 life-size portrait in bronze

BIOGRAPHY - hardback - published by Pen & Sword 2012

Mediums

  • Bronze
  • Fibreglass
  • Resin
  • Charcoal

Based in

Yorkshire, England

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