Biography
Andrew Fergus Brown was born on the 28th April 1976 in Stranraer, Scotland.
He currently lives in West Sussex and works at Sussex Sculpture Studios.
EDUCATION
1994-1999: University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh College of Art
M.A. Hons. Fine Art: 2:1
College of Art:
Foundation year followed by four years of specialisation in sculpture.
University:
Two general years studying History of Art, Classical Art and Archaeology, followed by two Honours years.
Honours courses:
Scottish Painting 1707-1843
Scottish Painting 1843-1979
English Art in the Twentieth Century
The Archaeology, History and Art of Greece, 1200-700BC
Honours Dissertation: Eric Schilsky, 1898-1974
AWARDS
2000- BNFL Hunterstone Award.
2000- Dumfries and Galloway Fine Art Society Award.
1999- Arthur Anderson Award: Royal Glasgow Institute.
1999- Scottish Sculpture Workshop Residency Award: Royal Scottish Academy.
PUBLIC COMMISSIONS
2009-2010: Robert the Bruce Sculpture Project
An over life size bronze sculpture showing Robert the Bruce as an ageing warrior and statesman commissioned by the people of his home town (Annan). Unveiled by Lord Bruce in January 2010. This was a very challenging commission as the finished sculpture was to be installed 30ft up on a small plinth attached to the front of a prominent public building, leaving no room for error! I worked closely with the commissioning body for around 10 months creating a series of accurate scale models on which we worked out the nitty gritty of scale, costume, pose and expression before sculpting the final piece. I also worked with the museum of warfare in Edinburgh, making sure I was historically accurate in terms of Costume and equipment. As is normally the case I acted as project manager as well as artist practitioner, handling the budget of just under £40,000 and coordinating the different tradesmen involved ( Bronze casters, scaffolders etc.) As project manager my role was to make sure that everything ran on time and on budget and that all parties remained well informed of progress. I am pleased to say that despite the weather’s best efforts the finished statue was successfully installed on time and on budget and to everyone’s satisfaction!
2008-2009: Winchburgh (West Lothian) Miner Sculpture Project
An over life size sculpture commemorating the shale mining industry of West Lothian. This sculpture is currently awaiting planning permission before bronze casting will commence. During this commission I worked closely with The Auldcathie Trust designing the figure and selecting the most suitable location, paying close attention to historical details of costume and equipment (I always go through a period of thorough research before beginning historical sculptures, making sure I get the details correct as once they are in bronze there is no going back!!). During the early stages of this process we held a small exhibition and invited local people to give their opinions on the project.
2004-2005: Port William Community Sculpture Project.
The aim of this project was to create a piece of sculpture to be sited at the village harbour on a piece of empty ground, a sculpture to reflect the local people, their interests and their relationship with the environment in which they live. In response to this brief I created a life size bronze figure. The statue was unveiled on the fourth of June 2005, and has been a great success with both locals and tourists, becoming a meeting place and the hub around which many other creative projects have developed.
2002-2003: Heathmount Preparatory School Residency.
A series of children’s sculpture workshops and a commission to create a sculpture to be sited within the school. The finished piece was sited on a little used spiral staircase in the boys’ boarding house and was intended to have a ghostly feel!
2000: Tanys Dell Primary School Residency.
A series of workshops with children on the theme of ‘family’, leading to a commission to make a sculpture for the school on the same theme. The children and their parents were heavily involved in the design process and in selecting the final design.
1998: Sir Alec Douglas Home Memorial.
I worked as an assistant on this project to Professor Bill Scott from Edinburgh College of Art. My job entailed the roughing out of a life size figure of Sir Alec in clay, before casting it in plaster. The figure was later cast in bronze and erected as the centrepiece of a larger installation commemorating the life and work of Sir Alec. The figure was unveiled by the
Prince of Wales in September 1998.
OTHER EMPLOYMENT
2006-ongoing: Sussex Sculpture Studios. Combining work on both public and private
commissions with running a sculpture studio, teaching traditional skills in
sculpture, drawing and printmaking to people of all ages and abilities.
2003-2006: Christ’s Hospital School Residency. Four years spent working as part of a
team of five artists in residence, running a thriving art department while
continuing to work on public and private commissions. Over the course of
my four years here I taught children aged between 11 and 18 with a focus on
drawing and sculpture.