James Sutton Sculpture
Sculpture Inspired by Nature
Discover the timeless beauty of nature through the evocative sculptures of James Sutton.
Working from his studio in the East Midlands, James creates striking pieces in stone, bronze, and metal that capture the essence of organic forms and emotional landscapes.
Each sculpture celebrates texture, movement, and the quiet power of nature—crafted to engage, inspire, and invite reflection.
Perfect for gardens, public spaces, or private collections, his work offers a sense of connection and calm.
Explore James’s latest collections and commissions, and bring a unique, handcrafted statement of artistry and nature into your world.
Enquire today to discuss bespoke commissions.
The Journey
Driven by a love of creativity from a young age, James Sutton has devoted his life to art.
Born on the outskirts of Manchester, James grew up as one of four children and the son of a Baptist minister. His childhood was shaped by family, the church, and a deep fascination with wildlife.
As a dyslexic student who found reading and writing difficult, he was encouraged by his mother to focus on what came naturally—drawing, painting, and making things with his hands.
Finding a Path in Sculpture
This early creative drive led James to study Fine Art and Contemporary Crafts at Lincoln University.
After his first year, he decided to drop Fine Art, frustrated by the lack of technical teaching and eager to master a craft-based skill as the foundation of his ideas.
The Contemporary Crafts course offered the chance to explore a range of materials before specialising.
Studying beside Lincoln Cathedral, with its breathtaking architecture, inspired James to focus on stone carving. While the course encouraged students to design marketable products, James was drawn to creating unique, one-off sculptures with personal meaning and emotional depth.
Early Career
After graduating in 2005 and getting married, James began his sculptural career—supported by his wife and a part-time job as a graphic designer. He started working from a small outhouse studio in the courtyard of their terraced home, producing stone sculptures and exhibiting wherever he could.
A few solo exhibitions followed, and within two years, James was able to leave his job and focus full-time on sculpture.
In 2010, with the arrival of his first child, he took another leap—renting a studio on a local farm. This allowed his work to grow in scale and ambition while joining a community of small creative businesses, all set within the beautiful surroundings of Hall Farm Gardens.
At this time, James primarily worked in marble, alabaster, and limestone, influenced by sculptors such as Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, and Constantin Brâncuși.
His work explored soft, sensual, nature-inspired forms.
Alongside his practice, James ran creative workshops for schools and community groups—from simple art sessions to large-scale collaborative sculptures made from diverse materials. Examples of these projects can be seen on Instagram at @sculpture_barn.
Evolving the Medium
As the scale of his work increased, James began taking on public art commissions. Stone became a limiting material, prompting collaboration with Dave Payne at Spitfire Forge. Together they produced several large sculptural and architectural works—combining James’s artistic vision with Dave’s engineering expertise.
Working closely with a blacksmith gave James the opportunity to learn metalworking and welding, opening up an entirely new creative language that continues to influence his work today.
Throughout his career, James has continued to expand his skills, undertaking courses in portrait and figurative sculpture, bronze casting, and business studies—all helping to refine his artistic and professional practice.
Studio Life and Growth
During the COVID-19 pandemic, James was featured on the BBC programme Home Is Where the Art Is, which led to hundreds of small commissions. This surge in demand brought the addition of Marvin, James’s “glamorous assistant.”
Formerly a youth worker, Marvin was creative but new to metalwork. He soon became indispensable—handling finishing, polishing, and packaging, allowing James to focus more on the creative process.
Marvin remains a key part of the studio, helping keep everything running smoothly.
These smaller commissions inspired the range of handmade pieces now available in the shop section of the website—each one unique, affordable, and crafted with the same care as James’s larger works.
After several studio expansions, the space eventually became too small.
In 2023, James moved into a much larger converted grain store on the same farm.
The new studio required significant renovation but now offers greater space and potential for future projects.
You can read more about the studio move here.
Family and Community
Now living and working in Lincolnshire, James and his wife are proud parents to three not-so-little children.
Family life, creativity, and the countryside continue to shape his outlook and inspire much of his work.
James and his family also believe strongly in giving back. Over the past few years, James Sutton Sculpture has collaborated with charities and fundraising initiatives, helping to raise over £250,000 for good causes. Supporting local and national charities remains an important part of what they do—combining art with compassion and community.
Over the years, James has collaborated with a wide range of organisations, councils, and community groups — from national names such as Tesco, the BBC, RAF Waddington, and DIY SOS, to arts initiatives including ICArt, Transported, ArtsNK and Mountain View Innovation Centre.
His public and charitable projects have involved partnerships with Ashgate Hospice, St John’s Hospice, Roundabout Homeless Charity, and numerous local authorities including Central Bedfordshire, Leighton Buzzard, Kirton Lindsey, Branston, and Saxilby Parish Council.
Other collaborations include Bridge Street Conservation Group, Boston Woods Trust, Geoff Moulder Leisure Centre, and Holton-le-Clay Village, among many more — reflecting the wide reach and community spirit that underpin his practice.
Today
James’s work ranges from abstract to figurative, but always aims to express emotion, balance, and the beauty of the natural world.
Over more than 20 years, his art has evolved across many materials and forms, shaped by collaborations and commissions for both private and public clients.
Today, James produces work for exhibitions and online sales, but focuses primarily on bespoke commissions—creating deeply personal pieces for private homes and gardens, as well as large-scale public artworks for businesses, councils, and communities.
“I want my work to capture a feeling of stillness and connection — to remind people of the beauty that surrounds us.”
— James Sutton