Contemporary artist Barry Davies creates figurative sculptures that celebrate the beauty of the natural world. Barry seeks to capture the elements of perfection he observes from the world around him, and transforms them into polished and poised sculptures. Whether sculpting bust portraits, animals mid-motion or natural ephemera such as shells and organic forms, Barry uses traditional methods to create captivating works of art. Barry primarily works with marble and bronze when creating his majestic sculptures.
Barry Davies’ Early Life and Education
Barry grew up in rural mid-Wales, which ignited his interest in nature from an early age. As a child, he would endlessly draw objects found in nature, and even created some from memory. Before becoming a full-time sculptor, Barry set up a small business as a cabinet maker. Before too long, Barry decided to focus his attention on fine art sculpture, and studied Art History at the Open University.
Techniques and Inspiration
When embarking on his bronze pieces, Barry models the sculptures in clay before casting them in bronze. However, when creating marble sculptures, he uses the relief carving process, in which he carves single pieces out of single blocks of marble. Barry has created portraits of prominent figures throughout history, ranging from Julius Caesar to Joan of Arc to Shakespeare. To achieve such high levels of realism in his work, Barry has tirelessly studied human and animal anatomy, as well as Classical and Renaissance sculpture.