Steven Whyte

For those of a similar name, see Stephen Whyte (disambiguation).
Steven Whyte
Born (1969-03-17) 17 March 1969
Amesbury, England
Nationality British American
Education Sir Henry Doulton School of Sculpture (1988 - 1991)
Known for Sculpture

Steven Whyte (born 17 March 1969) is a sculptor classically trained in the traditional methodology of figurative bronze sculpture living in Carmel, California who has produced many public memorials and installations in both England and throughout the United States with subjects ranging from miners, to soldiers and fire fighters. He is credited with nine major monuments including The Silverdale Mining Memorial, The Lance Sergeant Jack Baskeyfield VC Tribute, The Spirit of 1948, and The Dr. John Roberts Monument. Whyte recently completed work on a multimillion-dollar, sixteen-figure monument in San Diego, California entitled National Salute to Bob Hope and the Military, and two 1.5 times life size portraits busts of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Column of Knowledge featuring Dr. King's bust atop the books that influenced his life and a 2nd bust above Dr. King's famous "I have a dream speech").

In 2010 Whyte unveiled a twice life size portrait monument of the 1957 Heisman Trophy Winner, John David Crow at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas and a life size full relief statue of St. Anthony and Child at Basilica of Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo (Carmel Mission) Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA.

Whyte's recent work includes a four life size figures for a memorial to the fallen officers of the San Diego Sheriff's Department to be unveiled in May 2011. Whyte is currently working on a nine figure composition for Cannery Row, Monterey, CA, and a life size Jumbo the Elephant for Tufts University, MA. And a massive statue for Texas A&M University, The Aggie War Hymn Monument, twelve 1.6 times life size bronze figures of students, "sawing off variety's horns", the 10 ft by 37 ft sculpture is due to be unveiled in September 2014, at a cost of $1.7M. Whyte is about to start statues of rockers Slash and Lemmy of Motörhead for Stoke-on-Trent and Los Angeles.

Biography

The son of Campbell MacNaughton Whyte (retired Royal Air Force) and Janice Whyte (Homemaker, Gardener and Artisan), Steven Whyte was born March 17, 1969 in Amesbury,[1] United Kingdom and grew up in various parts of Europe including Scotland, Germany, the Netherlands, England, and the Shetland Isles.

Whyte, a dyslexic, has been described as first using art as a social solution, rather than a potential vocation: "Art class was often the only place I felt confident that I could contribute and learn at the same rate as my peers.” Whyte's first art courses were drawing and graphic design, but it was not until high school that he began learning ceramics and sculpture. As an undergraduate, he gained full scholarship and became the youngest accepted to the Sir Henry Doulton School of Sculpture, under the late Professor Colin Melbourne ARCA and Dame Elisabeth Frink RA.[2]

After leaving school, Whyte co-wrote the only validated figurative sculpture course in England[3] and accepted a teaching position at Stafford College, then became the youngest member of the London-based Society of Portrait Sculptors, where he served as Vice President alongside President Franta Belsky PPRBS, late sculptor to the Royal Family. Whyte's early career consisted primarily of private commissions and portrait work, with over 70 completed commissioned official portraits to date.[2]

In 2003, Whyte opened his first US open studio and gallery on Cannery Row in Monterey, California. In 2007, the Steven Whyte Sculpture Studio and Gallery moved to Carmel-by-the-Sea, California where it is currently open to the public every day.[3]

Nurture from Steven Whyte's signature Stance series, 2003-Ongoing

Artistic style

The human form is Whyte's preferred subject, and he typically works with live models whenever possible. His sculptures are ultimately cast in bronze, but they begin as clay.

Steven Whyte describes himself as a "sculptor of people"[1] and although his pieces are reminiscent of classical figures, Whyte chooses to put importance on "the emotional quality and impact of the sculpture" more than the adherence to traditional technique. Whyte intends for his work to have "narrative and tangible personality".

Whyte currently works in a studio that is open to the public. The interaction and response has become a part of his work. “There’s a constant energy. It’s like when a film actor does theater and suddenly there’s no distance between his work and the audience, the response is both immediate and honest.”[2]

Achievements

Portrait commissions

Image Date Name Description
1991 Shami Ahmed Chairman, Pinwise PLC
1992 Lord Alexander Chairman, National Westminster Bank PLC
1990 Heather Angel RSP Photographer, Author
1996 Lance Sergeant John Baskeyfield VC [Posthumous] Soldier, Awarded The Victoria Cross
1995 Arnold Bennett [Posthumous] Author
1990 James Bowman Counter Tenor, English National Opera
1996 Harold Brown [Posthumous] Author
1996 Lord John Cadman [Posthumous] Anglo Persian Oil Company
1992 Peter Cheeseman Director, the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme
1990 Arthur Chollerton CBE Chairman, Staffordshire County Council
1991 Sir Stanley W. Clarke Chairman, St. Modwen PLC
1992 The Rt. Hon. Kenneth Clarke M.P. Chancellor of the Exchequer
1995 Sir Joseph Cook [Posthumous] Prime Minister of Australia
1992 Peter Cropper Leader, The Lindsey String Quartet
1991 Sir Evelyn de Rothschild Chairman, Rothschild Bank
1995 Fanny Deakin [Posthumous] Politician
1992 The Duke of Westminster President, Grosvenor International Holdings]
1993 The Earl of Stockton President, Macmillan Publishers Ltd.
1989 Councillor Alan Edwards Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent
1990 Professor Brian Fender CMG Vice Chancellor, Keele University
1991 Mark Fisher MP Junior Minister of the Arts
1992 Lord Forte President, Forte PLC
1992 Sir Richard Giordano KBE Chairman, British Gas PLC
2003 Edgar Haber President, Quail Lodge Resort, Carmel, CA
1991 Sir John Harvey-Jones Industrialist, Author, Retired Chairman ICI PLC
1989 Dr. James Heron MB FRCP Chairman, The Institute of Neurologists
2006 Bob Hope [Posthumous] Entertainer
1991 Freddie Jones Actor RSC
19xx Bishop Litchfield Bishop
1993 Dr. Stephen Lock editor, The British Medical Journal
1999 Burt Mendelsohn Consultant
1991 Patrick Moore OBE Astronomer, Author
1990 Jackie Mudie Scottish International Soccer Player
2008 The Nye Grandchildren Erle and Alice Nye
1993 Peter Palumbo, Baron Palumbo Chairman, The Arts Council of Great Britain
1993 Rupert Pennant-Rea Deputy Chairman, The Bank of England
1991 Trevor Pinnock ARMC Director, The English Concert Orchestra
2004 Dr. John L.D. Roberts [Posthumous] Founder of Seaside, California
1991 John Rudge Manager, Port Vale Football Club
2002 Neal Smith CEO, WebloQ LLC.
1991 Sir Colin Southgate Chairman, Thorne EMI PLC
1993 Lord Sterling Chairman, P&O PLC
1992 The Rt. Rev. Keith Sutton Lord Bishop of Lichfield
1991 Lord Tombs Retired Chairman, Rolls Royce Aero PLC
1990 May Walley MBE Director, the Bedford Singers
1990 Michael Hare, 2nd Viscount Blakenham Chairman, Pearson PLC
1994 Bernard Weatherill, Baron Weatherill Posthumous Speaker, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom
1991 David Young, Baron Young of Graffham Chairman, Cable and Wireless PLC

Major public works and installations

Image Date Title Location
1991 Destiny

Queen’s Moat Hotel Group

 Staffordshire, England, UK
1991 Tribute to Reginald Mitchell

A 1.25 times life size full memorial figure to the aeronautical designer of the Spitfire airplane. (Sculpted with Michael Talbot)

 Staffordshire, England, UK
1996 The Silverdale Mining Memorial

An over life size miner (Sculpted with Michael Talbot) pushing a mining tub with eleven bronze plaques including four life size portrait reliefs.

 Newcastle-under-Lyme, England, UK
1996 The Lance Sergeant Jack Baskeyfield VC Tribute

A twice life size (12 ft) full memorial figure of the Victoria Cross winner (only monument to a non-commissioned soldier in Britain). (Sculpted with Michael Talbot)

 Hanley, England, UK
1997 Meir Portal

A 36 ft x 14 ft brick relief for Meir Interstate Tunnel Portal.

 Meir, England, UK
1998 Holden Lane High School Relief

A project with Holden Land High School (21 ft x 7 ft brick relief).

 Burslem, England, UK
1998 Spirit of 1948

A tribute for the Staffordshire Fire Service (three life-size figures in cast stone).

 Staffordshire, England, UK
2004 Relief of David and Lucille Packard

Founder, Hewlett Packard, Inc

 Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, California
2004 Dr. John L. D. Roberts Monument

A life size statue of the founder of Seaside, California.

 Seaside, California, USA
2008 A National Tribute to Bob Hope and the Military

Steven Whyte was responsible for eight life-size military figures for the 3.8 million dollar project

 San Diego, California, USA
2008 Column of Knowledge

A one and a half time life size portrait bust of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on a stack of books that influenced his life and work.

 Fontana, California, USA
2009 Dream Speech Bust

A one and a half time life size portrait bust of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr on top of the ‘I have a dream’ speech.

 Hollywood, Florida, USA
2009 St Anthony and Child

Life size full relief sculpture in bronze.

 Carmel Mission, Carmel, California, USA
2010 John David Crow

A 1.85 time life size portrait action figure of 1957 Heisman Trophy Winner, John David Crow.

 Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
2011 Tribute to The Fallen Officers of The Sheriffs Department

Four life size figures composed as a Flag Presenting Ceremony.

 San Diego, California, USA

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Noszlopy, George and Fiona Waterhouse (2005). Public Structure of Staffordshire and the Black Country. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press. ISBN 978-0-85323-999-4.
  2. 1 2 3 Wilson, Ellen (Summer–Fall 2004). "Steven Whyte: The Next Generation of Great Figurative Sculptors". Carmel Magazine.
  3. 1 2 Wilbur, Brett (Winter 2008). "Steven Whyte: An Artist at Work". Carmel Magazine.

References

Further reading

External links

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