From a childhood immersed in nature on a Yorkshire farm, to his current home, a 26-acre sculpture park in the Dorset countryside, Simon Gudgeon's perpetual fascination with wildlife and the natural world has led his interests and inspired his work.
He came to sculpting later in life, via an early career in the law, a landscaping business, and then several years painting; it wasn't until he turned 40 that he first tried his hand at it after an impulse purchase of some artist's clay.
His rise to success was meteoric, with exhibitions in London, New York, San Diego, Paris, and The Netherlands. His works are now displayed at high-profile locations around the world including London's Hyde Park, where his acclaimed monumental bronze 'Isis' was the first piece of public sculpture to be placed in the park for more than 50 years, and the National Museum of Wildlife Art in the United States.
Over the past 20 years his endless curiosity and creativity have led him to explore multiple techniques and styles, from his celebrated bird forms to abstract pieces, kinetic sculptures to figurative works, working predominantly in bronze, but occasionally in marble, granite, glass or stainless steel, and both casting and fabricating his creations.
His signature smooth, pared-back style allows him to capture to essence of his subjects, concentrating spirit and energy into flowing lines and elegant forms. It has won him worldwide acclaim and legions of admirers, with rockstars and Royalty alike counted among his collectors.
Working from his studio at his sculpture park, Sculpture by the Lakes, he continues to innovate, while honouring his core belief that sculpture must above all be beautiful, stimulate the senses and elevate the spirit.