Biography Teresa Wells MRSS

"I obtained a first class honours degree in Fine Art from Nottingham Trent University, 1996, and undertook postgraduate studies at Loughborough University, where my tutors included John Atkin FRBS and Dan Archer FRBS.

I have worked on large-scale sculptures 4 meters high and at a more intimate scale 30 cm in mixed media. My early sculptures were constructed from mild steel, using a variety of ready-made fixings such as nuts, bolts and silk ribbon. The materials were used metaphorically as I made vessels. These expressions of the body conveyed the relationship between our inner and outer selves, strength and fragility, the hidden and vulnerable. The fascination with contradictions emerged from learning about cultural practices; studies by anthropologists such as Nigel Barley (Smashing Pots), and Mary Douglas (Purity and Danger) and the zoologist Desmond Morris (Man Watching). Trained originally as an illustrator, I work in a Baroque style. Influenced by Bernini, Anthony Gormley, Phillip King, Cathy de Monchaux, and Grayson Perry. Currently working in bronze I like to place figurative forms in precarious positions using strong geometric steel shapes as supports.

A multi award-winning sculptor (‘Mind Body Spirit’ International Art – Competition.net, Best in show, APT Deptford 2015, Nominated by Richard Deacon CBE, Silver Gilt Award at Chelsea Flower Show 2022 and Gold at Blenheim 2021), I sell through various gallery platforms in the UK and USA, with work in the permanent collection of The Robert T Webb Sculpture Park, Georgia, USA.

I work to commission with clients including Juliet Sargeant, Blue Peter, BBC1 and Netflix, AK Designs, Best and Lloyd Lighting Design Ltd. and various private clients.

Press includes:  BBC coverage of Arthur for Blue Peter Garden 2022, The Times Newspaper May 2022, I Weekend June 2021; BBC1 Home is where the Art is. Netflix – Drama series Dracula, Flux Review Magazine 2021, CAKE 2020 and London Live 2018 amongst others." - Teresa Wells

Solo Shows
• The Henderson Gallery, Maltcross, Nottingham “Did you Get the Message?” September 2015
• The Brewhouse Arts Centre - Burton Upon Trent, Staffordshire. “Did You Get The Message?” January - February 2014
• Derby City Art Gallery and Museum – Silk Mill, Derbyshire. “Rational Voices, Irrational Deeds”, July – October 2010
• Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, Rugby, Warwickshire. “Rational Voices in an Irrational World”, August 2009
• Chichele College, Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire. “Body and Soul – Fragility in Adversity”, April 2009

Group Exhibitions
• Flux Exhibition, Greenwich Peninsula 2021
• Savill Garden with The Surrey Sculpture Society 2021
• Fresh Art Fair Cheltenham 2021
• Sculpture at Beaulieu 2021
• High Clandon Vineyard Surrey 2021
• Kingham Lodge , Oxfordshire 2021
• Cotswold Sculpture Park, 2021
• Cotswold Sculpture Park 2020
• Devon Sculpture Park – Weight of the World – National monument to COVID19 victims
• Hannah Pescher Sculpture Garden May 2020
• Sculpture at Doddington Hall 2020 July - September
• Fake News – Offshoot Gallery London with Art Can March 2020
• Art in Penallt, Humble by Nature, August 2019
• Borde Hill Gardens, 200th Anniversary, Sussex. May – September 2019
• Marks Hall Sculpture, MarksTey Essex June – September 2019
• Beaulieu Park Sculpture may – August 2019
• Turning Tides Festival – Flux at Greenwich Peninsula July 2019
• Flux 2019 The National Army Museum, Chelsea March 2019
• FPS London Ultra at Bargehouse, Southbank – December 2018
• Doddington Hall and Gardens, Lincolnshire July - September 2018.
• Sculpture at Hoveton Hall, June -September 2018
• Flux Exhibition at Chelsea School of Arts - April 2018
• Free Painters and Sculptors, Clerkenwell Gallery, London, September 2017
• Laura I Gallery, Barking, London, September 2017
• Grid Studios, Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, Rugby, September 2017
• Free Painters and Sculptors, Oxo Tower Gallery, London, June 2017
• Rugby Art Gallery and Museum Open 2016, December 2016 - January 2017
• Free Painters and Sculptors, The Menier Gallery, London, November 2016
• Grid Studios, Rugby, Warwickshire. October 2016
• Sculpture at Doddington Hall and Gardens, Lincolnshire July - September 2016
• Leyden Gallery, Shoreditch, London, April 2016
• Art Rooms 2016, The Melia White House Hotel, London, January 2016
• FPS Open 2015, The Menier Gallery London, November 2015
• TIAF 2015, The rag Factory, Brick Lane, London, October 2015
• APT Open 2015, Creekside, London, June - July 2015
• Leicester City Open 2015, Newark House Museum and Gardens, March 2015 – May 2015.
• Sculpture at Doddington Hall and Gardens, Doddington Hall, Lincolnshire - August 2014.
• ‘Memories’ A collection of works by Grid Studios, Rugby, September 2013.
• Warwickshire Open Studios, The Grid, June - July 2013
• Rugby Open, Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, Warwickshire, November - December • 2012
• Parallax AF New York, 82 Mercer, Soho, New York - August 2012
• Warwickshire Open Studios, The Grid, Rugby - 30 June - 15 July 2012
• Parallax AF London, La Galleria, Royal Arcade, Pall Mall - June/July 2011
• Grid Studios, Harborough Magna, Warwickshire - July 2010
• Woburn ArtBeat, Woburn, Bedfordshire, April 2010
• Grid Studios, Harborough Magna, Warwickshire – October 2009
• Northamptonshire Open Studios, Canons Ashby House and Church, Northamptonshire – September 2009
• Sculpture in the Sanctuary, The Sanctuary, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, August 2009
• Derby City Open, Derby Museum and Art Gallery, Silk Mill, November 2008 – January 2009
• Leicester City Open, 2008, November 2008 – January 2009.
• Open Studios, Barton Hall Studios, Barton Seagrave, August 2008
• Open Studios, Barton Hall Studios, Barton Seagrave, April 2008.
• NHS Open Exhibition, April 2008 – September 2008 – Four venues in Leicestershire and Rutland
• RASG Exhibition Rugby March 2008
• RBSA Members Exhibition February 2008
• RBSA Open Exhibition, December 2007– January 2008.
• Rugby City Art Gallery and Museum, Open, November 2007 – January 2008.
• Open Studios, Barton Hall Studios, Barton Seagrave, April 2007.
• Leicester City Art Gallery Open, 2006, November 2006 – January 2007.

Commissions and Permanent Collections
• Narcissus 6/12 April 2020 Robert T Webb Sculpture Garden, Georgia USA
• Commission for sculpture for the drama ‘Dracula’ produced by Mark Gatiss shown on The BBC and Netflix
• Commission for BBC1 client – April 2019
• Portrait bust for client in Oxfordshire March 2019
• Bronze commission for client in Essex February 2019
• ‘Lions of The Great War Monument’, Assisted Luke Perry and foundry in making of public monument to Sikh contribution in First World war, Smethwick, Birmingham. October 2018
• Restoration of Thomas Telford in Telford Shropshire August 2018
• AK Designs Shropshire, Figurative Herons in bronze for console base, Private client in Herefordshire. Ongoing.
• Steve Hayzen-Smith, private client, Love, Life and Happiness, January 2015.
• Damian Daar, private client. - Sculpture of Sancho Panza December 2014
• Gillian Keighley, private client - Commemorative sculpture of the life and work of the scientist John H Keighley, August 2014.
• Connections in Design Ltd, Birmingham.

Press
• I Weekend - Centre spread feature on sculpture parks - I Spirit mentioned along with work by Banksy and Barbara Hepworth 2021
• BBC1 Netflix – ‘I Spirit’ for series drama ‘Dracula’
• BN De Stem – Dutch press ‘I Spirit’ at GalerieTON, Ruchpen
• ITV Meridian – interview for Borde Hill Garden 200th Anniversary and sculpture show May 2019
• BBC – ‘ Home is Where the Art Is” – April 2019
• Contemporary Art Keen Enthusiast – April 2019
• YouTube presentation of ‘Gaia’ by Bebb Fine Art Gallery – March 2019
• London Live ‘I Spirit’ at The Rootstein Hopkins Parade, Chelsea, April 2018
• The Heroine’s Journey by Peter De Kunster – March 2018
• One Borough Life – ‘Codes of Faith’ at Laura I Gallery Barking
• Peripheral Arteries – Biennial edition 2017 26 page feature
• What is Art? Promotional magazine July 2017
• Art Attack interview for online magazine.

Awards
• Blenheim Flower Show Gold award (with Oxford Garden Design Company 2021)
• Prize winner (4th place) ‘Mind Body Spirit’ International Art – Competition.net 2019
• Professional mentoring with Kathy Dalwood, awarded through AXIS 2018
• Shortlisted for Spotlight 2015, The Royal British Society of Sculptors and Andipa Gallery, Knightsbridge, London.
• Prize Winner, Creekside Open 2015, APT Gallery, London. Selected and Nominated by Richard Deacon CBE.
• Creative Leicestershire, Business Start up Grant Award, December 2006.
 

Gallery / Art Park Representation • GalerieTON, Ruchpen The Netherlands • Saatchi.com • Jose Gallery USA • Carlos Reid Gallery USA • Art Collection NYC New York • Devon Sculpture Park - Devon • Artparks International, Guernsey • The Sculpture Park, Churt, Surrey • The Sheridan Russell Gallery, London • Art Majeur • Zatista • Wescover • Artfinder • Singluart • Cotswold Sculptors Association • Yorkshire Artists • Surrey Sculptors Society • The Royal Society of Sculptors • View Gallery