Stainless steel on Corten steel plinth
Approx. height: 5 ft / 150 cm
Commissioned public artwork
Similar bespoke commissions from £10,000

Stalk was commissioned by a school and developed through a collaborative process with its sixth-form students, creating a permanent sculpture with a direct connection to the school community.

The design takes its starting point from the school’s logo, reinterpreting its familiar form as a large-scale sculptural work in stainless steel. Rather than simply reproducing the graphic, the design transforms it into a three-dimensional object with a strong silhouette, changing reflections and a sense of movement as it is viewed from different angles.

An important part of the commission was a practical workshop held at my studio with sixth-form students. This gave the students an opportunity to experience the processes involved in creating sculpture first-hand and allowed their involvement to become part of the story behind the finished artwork.

Standing approximately 5 ft tall, the stainless steel sculpture is mounted on a contrasting Corten steel plinth. The weathered surface of the Corten provides warmth and permanence against the reflective stainless steel, allowing the work to sit comfortably within its architectural surroundings.

Stalk demonstrates how an organisation's existing identity can be developed into a distinctive piece of site-specific sculpture, while workshops and consultation can give students, staff or the wider community meaningful involvement in the commissioning process.

Monumental Bronze, Copper & Stainless Steel Sculpture

Bronze, copper and stainless steel
Approx. height: 3 m excluding plinth
Created: 2023–2024
Site-specific commission for a private business collection, Isle of Man
Similar monumental commissions: from approximately £150,000

Sacrifice is a monumental site-specific sculpture created for a private business on the Isle of Man, forming part of the client's growing collection of artworks and installations.

At the centre of the composition is a life-size bronze figure of Christ, suspended within a monumental circular structure of stainless steel and copper. The sculpture explores sacrifice, suffering and faith through a contemporary combination of figurative bronze and architectural metalwork.

The scale and simplicity of the circular form give the work a strong presence within the landscape, while the suspended figure creates a more intimate point of focus. Viewed from different positions, the relationship between the figure, circle, sky and surrounding environment continually changes.

A contemporary interpretation in bronze and metal

The figure was originally sculpted by hand in clay, allowing the posture, expression and relationship with the surrounding structure to develop before moulding and casting.

It was subsequently cast in bronze using the traditional lost-wax process, combining centuries-old sculptural techniques with contemporary stainless-steel fabrication.

The monumental outer structure was fabricated in my studio using grade 316 stainless steel, with specially rolled hoops and an engineered internal framework providing the strength required for a sculpture of this scale. The structure was then clad in individually fitted and riveted copper sheet.

The combination of materials is integral to the work. Bronze and copper bring warmth, depth and a surface that will continue to develop with age, while stainless steel provides the structural strength and precision required for the overall composition.

Sculpture created for a significant setting

At approximately three metres tall before its plinth, Sacrifice was designed to command a substantial landscape without overwhelming it.

Large-scale sculpture can give a commercial property, private estate or landscaped development a distinctive identity. It creates a focal point and a memorable sense of place, while providing clients with an artwork that has been developed specifically for its surroundings rather than selected as an afterthought.

For private collectors, a commission of this scale also offers the opportunity to create something deeply personal: an artwork informed by an idea, belief, experience or story and developed into a unique permanent piece.

From concept to installation

Projects of this scale require considerably more than the creation of the artwork itself.

Sacrifice involved the development of the original concept, clay modelling, structural fabrication, specialist bronze casting and patination, copper fabrication, trial assembly, bespoke packing and transportation to the Isle of Man. I then worked alongside the client's site team during the final assembly and installation.

This ability to take a project from an initial idea through to a completed installation is an important part of my commissioned work.

Bespoke monumental sculpture commissions

I work with private collectors, businesses, art consultants, architects, property developers and organisations to create significant site-specific sculpture for exceptional spaces.

Each project can be developed in response to the client, architecture and landscape. Materials, scale, composition and subject matter can all be explored as part of the commissioning process, from contemporary abstract work to large-scale figurative sculpture in bronze, stainless steel, copper and Corten steel.

Similar monumental commissions currently begin at approximately £150,000, with final costs determined by scale, materials, engineering, location and installation requirements.

To discuss a significant sculpture for a private collection, commercial property or landscape, please contact James Sutton Sculpture.

Stainless steel and Corten steel on stone plinth
Approx. overall height: 8 ft / 2.4 m
Life-size site-specific commission
Similar bespoke commissions: £15,000–£20,000

Ask is a life-size figurative sculpture commissioned for a privately owned business site, forming part of a wider collection of artworks and installations inspired by passages from the Bible.

The sculpture takes its inspiration from Matthew 7:7:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Rather than illustrating the verse literally, the figure was developed as a contemplative response to its themes of enquiry, persistence, discovery and possibility. The simplified human form creates a strong silhouette while leaving space for individual interpretation.

Constructed around a structural stainless steel frame, the figure combines Corten steel and stainless steel sheet, bringing together contrasting surfaces and tones. The weathered warmth of the Corten sits against the cooler reflective stainless steel, allowing the sculpture to respond continually to changing light and weather.

Standing approximately 8 ft high including its stone plinth, Ask has a significant physical presence while retaining a restrained, almost meditative character. It sits within landscaped grounds shared by a number of businesses and a café, where visitors are encouraged to explore the site and discover artworks throughout the landscape.

The commission demonstrates how sculpture can become part of the identity and experience of a commercial property — creating a landmark, a point of conversation and something memorable for employees, clients and visitors.

I work directly with businesses, developers, private collectors and organisations to create distinctive site-specific sculpture, developing each commission in response to its setting, architecture and the ideas or stories important to the client.

Free Standing stainless steel sculpture
Approx. diameter: 1 m
Bespoke versions from: £3,000
Similar works occasionally available through the website shop

Collective Motion developed from my interest in the way individual forms can come together to create something larger than themselves.

The sculpture is constructed from a group of individually formed stainless-steel fish. Each fish exists as a distinct object, yet together they create a flowing circular movement that gives the work its overall identity. The composition explores ideas of connection, belonging and shared experience, and the balance between maintaining our individuality while being influenced by the people and environments around us.

The reflective qualities of stainless steel are an important part of the work. Light, architecture and movement are continually picked up across the surfaces of the fish, causing the sculpture to alter throughout the day and as it is viewed from different positions. There is no single fixed view; the work changes with its surroundings.

At approximately one metre in diameter, this sculpture has enough presence to create a strong focal point while retaining a sense of lightness and movement. It is particularly suited to contemporary interiors, hotel and hospitality spaces, corporate environments and private homes, where its reflective surface can interact with the architecture around it.

The concept can also be developed as a bespoke commission, with the number, scale and arrangement of the fish adapted to a particular wall or architectural setting. Larger installations can be created for reception areas, atriums, restaurants, hotels and commercial developments.

Wall-mounted stainless steel sculpture
Approx. diameter: 1 m
Bespoke versions from: £3,000
Similar works occasionally available through the website shop

Collective Motion developed from my interest in the way individual forms can come together to create something larger than themselves.

The sculpture is constructed from a group of individually formed stainless-steel fish. Each fish exists as a distinct object, yet together they create a flowing circular movement that gives the work its overall identity. The composition explores ideas of connection, belonging and shared experience, and the balance between maintaining our individuality while being influenced by the people and environments around us.

The reflective qualities of stainless steel are an important part of the work. Light, architecture and movement are continually picked up across the surfaces of the fish, causing the sculpture to alter throughout the day and as it is viewed from different positions. There is no single fixed view; the work changes with its surroundings.

At approximately one metre in diameter, this wall-mounted version has enough presence to create a strong focal point while retaining a sense of lightness and movement. It is particularly suited to contemporary interiors, hotel and hospitality spaces, corporate environments and private homes, where its reflective surface can interact with the architecture around it.

The concept can also be developed as a bespoke commission, with the number, scale and arrangement of the fish adapted to a particular wall or architectural setting. Larger installations can be created for reception areas, atriums, restaurants, hotels and commercial developments.

Monumental Stainless Steel Sculpture | Bespoke Corporate & Private Commission

Stainless steel
Approx. dimensions: 8 m long × almost 3 m high
Created: 2019–2020
Site-specific commission for a private business, Isle of Man
Similar monumental commissions: typically £50,000–£150,000

Shoal is a monumental stainless-steel sculpture commissioned for a privately owned business site on the Isle of Man. Extending approximately eight metres across the landscape, the installation transforms a simple natural phenomenon — the coordinated movement of a shoal of fish — into a large-scale contemporary sculpture.

Hundreds of individually formed stainless-steel fish combine to create a flowing composition with a strong sense of movement. Each fish was made by hand in my studio, beaten and formed individually before surface patterns and details were introduced through grinding and welding. No two are identical.

Viewed from a distance, the individual fish merge into a single sweeping form. Closer inspection reveals the variation, craftsmanship and individuality within the group. This relationship between the individual and the collective has become an important theme within my work and continues to inform my smaller Collective Motion sculptures and larger site-specific installations.

Sculpture that changes with its surroundings

Stainless steel was chosen not only for its durability but for the way it interacts with its environment. Reflections move across the surfaces as daylight, weather and viewing position change, allowing the sculpture to take on a different character throughout the day.

The open structure also allows landscape and architecture to remain visible through the sculpture. Rather than simply occupying a site, the work becomes part of it.

At this scale, Shoal creates a distinctive landmark and focal point while retaining the visual lightness and movement associated with fish travelling through water.

Bespoke sculpture for exceptional spaces

The Shoal concept can be developed as a completely bespoke commission for businesses, corporate headquarters, commercial developments, hotels, hospitality venues, private estates, luxury residences, sculpture gardens and public spaces.

The scale, number and arrangement of the fish can be designed specifically around the architecture or landscape in which the sculpture will sit. Smaller wall-mounted and freestanding interpretations are also possible, while major installations can extend across walls, landscapes or architectural spaces.

Individual fish can be customised through variations in surface pattern, texture and selected contrasting materials, allowing each commission to develop its own identity.

For commercial projects, sculpture of this scale can provide far more than decoration. It can create a recognisable landmark, arrival point and visual identity for a property, giving clients, visitors and employees something memorable with which to associate the site.

Commissioning a Shoal sculpture

I work directly with private collectors, businesses, architects, interior designers, landscape designers and art consultants to develop site-specific sculpture.

A commission can begin with photographs, architectural drawings or an initial conversation about the site. From there, the composition, scale, materials, positioning and installation requirements can be developed around the location and the client's objectives.

Similar monumental commissions are currently projected at approximately £50,000–£150,000, depending on scale, complexity, location and installation requirements.

Smaller stainless-steel fish sculptures and shoal compositions are also created periodically and can be found in the Shop, or commissioned individually.

To discuss a bespoke sculpture for a commercial property, private estate or significant architectural space, please get in touch.

Life-Size Corten Steel Figurative Sculpture

Corten steel and mild steel
Life-size figurative sculpture
Kirton in Lindsey, North Lincolnshire
Similar bespoke commissions from £20,000

Grandad’s Plough is a life-size figurative sculpture created for Kirton in Lindsey, North Lincolnshire, as part of a permanent landmark celebrating the town’s agricultural heritage.

The sculpture depicts a farmer working behind a traditional plough, but rather than reproducing the human figure literally, the form is reduced to strong, expressive planes of steel. The result sits between figuration and abstraction: recognisably human from a distance, while closer viewing reveals the construction, negative spaces and individual pieces of metal from which the figure is formed.

This simplified approach gives the sculpture a sense of movement and physical effort while allowing the surrounding landscape, sky and architecture to remain visible through the composition.

Material, form and landscape

Constructed from Corten steel and 5 mm mild steel, the sculpture was designed to have a robust physical presence appropriate to its outdoor setting.

The warm, weathered character of the steel complements the agricultural subject and gives the artwork a sense of permanence and connection to the landscape. As conditions and viewpoints change, light catches different planes of the figure, continually altering its silhouette and surface.

At life size, the work retains a human connection while still having sufficient presence to function as a landmark within its setting.

Sculpture that tells the story of a place

Grandad’s Plough demonstrates how a familiar aspect of local history can be transformed into a distinctive contemporary artwork.

The wider monument celebrates Kirton in Lindsey’s long association with agriculture, and has become part of the visual identity of the town.

This type of commission is particularly suited to locations where an artwork needs to communicate something meaningful about people, heritage, industry or place rather than functioning purely as decoration.

For businesses and private clients, the same approach can be used to develop sculpture around a company’s history, a family story, an important individual, a profession or a connection to a particular landscape.

Bespoke figurative sculpture commissions

I create site-specific figurative sculpture for private collectors, businesses, property developers, hospitality destinations, estates, schools, local authorities and public spaces.

Each commission is individually developed around its setting and story. Scale, posture, materials and level of abstraction can all be adapted to create a work that feels specific to the client rather than a reproduction of an existing sculpture.

Works can be created as standalone landscape sculptures, incorporated into architectural settings or developed as part of a wider entrance, memorial or placemaking project.

Similar life-size bespoke commissions currently start from approximately £20,000, with larger and more complex projects priced according to scale, materials, engineering, foundations and installation requirements.

To discuss a figurative sculpture for a private collection, business, development or public space, please contact James Sutton Sculpture.

Monumental Stainless Steel Wildlife Sculpture

316 stainless steel
Approx. height: 9 ft / 2.7 m
Bespoke private commission
Similar large-scale commissions from £15,000

Hummingbird is a large-scale stainless steel sculpture commissioned by a private collector to mark a special wedding anniversary. Rising approximately nine feet, the work transforms the fleeting movement of a hummingbird into a permanent sculptural statement.

The bird is suspended from a flower by the tip of its beak, creating the impression that it is hovering momentarily in space. This carefully balanced composition gives a substantial metal sculpture an unexpected sense of lightness, movement and delicacy.

Created from 316 stainless steel, the sculpture combines strength and permanence with a surface that continually responds to its environment. Changing daylight, reflections and surrounding colours move across the metal, giving the work a different character according to weather, season and viewpoint.

A personal commission on a monumental scale

The hummingbird was chosen for its particular significance to the client, allowing the finished sculpture to become more than a landscape feature. It commemorates an important moment in their lives while remaining a contemporary artwork in its own right.

This is an approach I particularly value within private commissions: taking an animal, natural form, memory or idea with personal meaning and developing it into a sculpture that is specific to both the collector and the place in which it will live.

At approximately 2.7 metres high, Hummingbird has the scale to become a focal point within a substantial garden or landscape while the open structure and elevated bird prevent it from feeling visually heavy.

Stainless steel sculpture for gardens and exceptional spaces

Large-scale wildlife sculpture can work particularly well within private estates, contemporary gardens, landscaped commercial properties, hotels and hospitality settings.

The reflective stainless steel creates a strong contrast with planting and natural textures, while carefully considered positioning allows the sculpture to interact with views, architecture and changing light.

For a private collector, a bespoke work can be developed around a particular location, creating an intentional relationship between the sculpture and its surroundings rather than simply placing an artwork into an existing space.

For businesses and hospitality clients, a distinctive sculpture can also provide a memorable focal point, creating an identity for an entrance, garden, courtyard or landscaped destination.

Bespoke wildlife sculpture commissions

I create individual sculptures for private collectors, businesses, interior and landscape designers, hospitality clients and art consultants, with each commission developed in response to the client and its intended setting.

Wildlife and nature-inspired commissions can be adapted in subject, scale, composition and finish, from individual statement pieces to larger sculptural installations.

Similar large-scale bespoke commissions currently start from approximately £15,000, with final costs dependent on scale, complexity, materials, site requirements and installation.

To discuss a bespoke sculpture for a private garden, estate, commercial property or hospitality setting, please contact James Sutton Sculpture.

Contemporary Stainless Steel Bird Sculptures & Bespoke Installations

Birds in Flight is an evolving collection of hand-formed stainless steel bird sculptures inspired by the movement, freedom and constantly changing patterns of birds in flight.

Each bird is individually created in my studio, with the metal cut, formed and worked by hand to capture a sense of movement without reproducing the bird too literally. Simplified silhouettes, sweeping wings and carefully considered negative space give the sculptures a contemporary character while retaining an immediate connection with the natural world.

Displayed individually or brought together in larger groups, the birds can create anything from an intimate sculptural detail to a dramatic architectural installation.

Sculpture shaped by movement and light

Stainless steel is central to the character of the collection. Its reflective surface responds continually to changing light, architecture and landscape, allowing the appearance of the birds to shift throughout the day and as the viewer moves around them.

The combination of solid metal and open space creates a feeling of lightness that contrasts with the permanence of the material. In larger installations, individual birds become part of a wider composition, creating rhythm and movement across a wall, through an atrium or within a landscape.

Different surface finishes can be used to alter the way the work interacts with its surroundings, from softer satin and hand-textured surfaces to highly reflective polished details.

Wall-mounted, suspended and freestanding sculpture

The collection can be developed in a variety of formats depending on the space.

Individual birds can be displayed as standalone sculptures, while groups can be arranged as wall-mounted artworks, freestanding compositions or suspended installations. Scale, spacing and direction can be adapted to work with the architecture of a particular setting.

Larger installations are particularly suited to:

Private residences and collections · luxury hotels and hospitality spaces · corporate headquarters and reception areas · atriums and stairwells · restaurants · contemporary gardens · sculpture parks · commercial developments

For interior projects, groups of birds can travel across walls or occupy otherwise unused vertical space. Suspended installations can create movement through double-height rooms and atriums, while exterior pieces allow polished stainless steel to contrast with planting, stone and changing skies.

Bespoke bird sculpture commissions

I work with private collectors, interior designers, architects, art consultants, hotels, businesses and property developers to create bespoke versions of the Birds in Flight collection.

A commission can be designed specifically around a wall, room, landscape or architectural feature. The number of birds, individual scale, composition, spacing, orientation, mounting method and finish can all be developed to complement the site and the client's requirements.

For larger projects, the birds can extend through an architectural space to create a distinctive focal point and a sense of movement through the building.

The modular nature of the collection also allows installations to be expanded, creating anything from a small group of birds to a substantial site-specific artwork.

Available work

Individual bird sculptures and smaller compositions are occasionally available through the website shop.

For larger wall-mounted, suspended, freestanding or site-specific installations, please contact me to discuss a bespoke commission.

To discuss a stainless steel bird sculpture for a private collection, hotel, business or architectural project, please contact James Sutton Sculpture.

Contemporary Abstract Garden Sculpture

Jesmonite, resin and gold leaf on solid oak plinth
Private garden commission
Similar bespoke commissions from approximately £5,000

Fractured is a bespoke abstract sculpture created for a private collector, inspired by rock formations, geological pressure and the cracks and fissures created through natural processes over time.

The sculpture was designed specifically for the client’s garden and to complement the restrained, contemporary architecture of their home. Its simplified geometric form reflects the property’s minimalist character, while the fractured surface introduces something more organic and unpredictable.

The result is a piece that sits between landscape and architecture — substantial enough to create a focal point, but deliberately understated in its form and palette.

Inspired by geological form

The starting point for Fractured was my interest in the way stone records pressure, movement and erosion.

Rather than reproducing a particular rock formation, I used these geological processes as a basis for developing the form. Fine cracks break across the surface, disrupting an otherwise controlled shape and creating contrast between strength and fragility, permanence and change.

Selected fissures are highlighted with resin and gold leaf, drawing attention to the breaks rather than disguising them. The treatment references ideas associated with repair and transformation while allowing the cracks to become an intentional part of the sculpture’s identity.

Designed specifically for the client

The commission began with drawings and a series of maquettes, allowing different proportions, forms and surface treatments to be explored before the final design was agreed.

This stage is particularly useful for private commissions, giving the collector an opportunity to understand how a proposed sculpture will work before full-scale fabrication begins.

The architecture and landscaping of the property also informed the development of the piece. Its clean form was deliberately chosen to sit comfortably alongside the contemporary minimalist style of the house rather than compete with it.

From clay model to finished sculpture

Once the design was approved, the sculpture was first created by hand as a full clay model.

A silicone mould was then taken from the original and the final form cast in Jesmonite. After casting, the sculpture was individually reworked by hand to refine its surface and fracture patterns.

Colour and depth were introduced using resins, with selected details finished in gold leaf. This combination creates subtle variations across the surface and allows individual fissures to catch the light.

The completed sculpture is mounted on a solid oak plinth, providing a warm natural contrast to the pale sculptural form.

Bespoke sculpture for contemporary homes and gardens

Fractured demonstrates how a commissioned artwork can be developed specifically around both a client’s interests and the architecture of their property.

I create bespoke sculpture for private collectors, contemporary homes, gardens, landscaped spaces and interior projects, working with clients to develop pieces that feel individual to their setting.

A commission can begin with an existing theme within my work or with an entirely new idea. Scale, material, colour, surface finish and display can then be developed in response to the intended location.

Similar bespoke commissions currently start from approximately £5,000, depending on scale, materials and complexity.

To discuss a sculpture for a private home, garden or collection, please contact James Sutton Sculpture.

Stainless Steel Memorial Butterflies & Charity Fundraising Installation

Handcrafted stainless steel butterflies
Created for Ashgate Hospice
Installed at Chatsworth House, Derbyshire
Large-scale charity fundraising and remembrance campaign

The Ashgate Hospice Butterfly Appeal was created as a large-scale fundraising and remembrance project, bringing together thousands of individually handcrafted stainless steel butterflies in a temporary installation at Chatsworth House.

Each butterfly could be dedicated in memory of someone special, allowing supporters to contribute to the hospice while receiving a permanent handcrafted artwork to keep after the public display had ended.

Seen together across the grounds of Chatsworth, the individual butterflies became something much larger: a striking collective artwork representing remembrance, connection and the many lives touched by the hospice.

The campaign proved highly successful. Chatsworth reported that sales of the butterflies generated more than £100,000, while Ashgate described thousands of individual dedications and significant public and media engagement around the installation.

From individual keepsake to large-scale installation

A key part of the project was designing an object that could work at two very different scales.

Individually, each stainless steel butterfly needed to feel special enough to become a lasting memorial piece for a supporter to take home and display in a garden or interior.

Collectively, thousands of butterflies needed to create a visually compelling installation capable of filling a significant landscape and attracting visitors, photography and wider attention to the fundraising campaign.

The reflective stainless steel allowed changing daylight and the surrounding landscape to become part of the installation, while repetition created a sense of movement across the grounds.

Art as a fundraising experience

Projects such as the Butterfly Appeal offer charities something beyond a conventional fundraising product.

The artwork can become part of the entire campaign experience:

supporters make a donation and dedicate an individual sculpture; the individual pieces are brought together as a large temporary installation; the installation creates an opportunity for visits, press coverage, sponsorship and social media; and afterwards supporters take their sculpture home as a lasting reminder of the person or cause it represents.

For memorial campaigns in particular, this creates a tangible connection between remembrance, fundraising and art.

The Ashgate campaign also benefited from corporate sponsorship from Graysons Solicitors, demonstrating how this type of project can bring together a charity, sponsor, venue, artist and supporters within one highly visible campaign.

Bespoke fundraising sculpture campaigns

I work with charities, hospices, fundraising teams, corporate sponsors and organisations to develop bespoke sculptural fundraising campaigns.

The artwork does not need to be a butterfly. A design can be developed specifically around a charity, location, campaign theme or symbol that has particular meaning to its supporters.

Depending on the project, this might include:

memorial butterflies, dragonflies, flowers, birds, leaves or other symbolic forms;

personalised or engraved elements;

hundreds or thousands of individually produced sculptures;

a temporary collective installation before the works are distributed to supporters;

sculpture trails or displays within gardens, estates and public venues;

corporate sponsorship and branding opportunities.

The aim is to create something that is visually memorable as an installation, meaningful as an individual object and commercially viable as a fundraising campaign.

Interested in creating a sculptural fundraising campaign?

If your charity or organisation is considering a large-scale memorial, fundraising or supporter-engagement campaign, I would be pleased to discuss what could be developed specifically for you.

Find out more about my charity fundraising projects, or contact James Sutton Sculpture to discuss an initial idea.

ashgatehospice.org.uk/butterfly-appeal

Corten & Stainless Steel Community Sculpture

Corten steel and stainless steel
Commissioned for Pembroke Secondary School
Participatory public art and student engagement project

Lock Down is a permanent sculpture created for Pembroke Secondary School as a reflection on the experiences of young people during the COVID-19 pandemic and periods of lockdown.

At the centre of the work is the figure of a seated boy, formed from hundreds of individual Corten steel butterflies. Around him, stainless steel butterflies appear to break away from the figure, carrying words, drawings and imagery contributed by students as they reflected on their own experiences of an extraordinary period in their lives.

The sculpture brings those individual voices together within a single artwork, creating both a record of a particular moment in history and a wider reflection on isolation, change, resilience and emerging from confinement.

From individual experiences to a collective artwork

The butterfly became an important visual element within the sculpture because of its associations with change, transformation and freedom.

Rather than constructing the figure as a solid form, hundreds of separate butterflies combine to suggest the human body. Viewed from a distance they become one figure; closer inspection reveals the individual elements from which it is made.

That relationship between the individual and the collective is central to the work. Each student's experience of lockdown was personal, yet together those experiences formed part of something shared by an entire generation.

The stainless steel butterflies surrounding the figure extend this idea further. Their contrasting reflective surfaces create the impression of movement away from the darker Corten form, suggesting release, possibility and transition.

Student voices embedded within the sculpture

Community participation was an integral part of the commission rather than an addition to the finished artwork.

Students were invited to respond to their experiences through words and imagery, which were subsequently incorporated into the stainless steel butterflies surrounding the figure.

This allowed the finished sculpture to retain authentic contributions from the people whose story it represents.

For me, participatory public art works most effectively when engagement genuinely informs the artwork. Workshops, drawings, writing and conversations can provide the material from which a final sculpture develops, giving participants a meaningful connection with the finished piece without compromising its visual identity as a permanent artwork.

Materials, contrast and changing surfaces

The sculpture combines Corten steel and stainless steel, using the different characteristics of the two materials as part of the composition.

The warm, weathered Corten gives the central figure a strong and grounded presence, while the brighter stainless steel butterflies respond to changing light and movement around the sculpture.

The contrast allows the surrounding butterflies to appear visually lighter and more animated, reinforcing the sense that they are moving beyond the central figure.

Both materials are particularly well suited to permanent exterior sculpture and allow the artwork to develop a strong relationship with its architectural surroundings.

Bespoke public art through community engagement

Lock Down demonstrates how a permanent sculpture can be developed around the experiences, history or identity of a particular community.

I work with schools, universities, healthcare organisations, charities, local authorities, developers and businesses to create site-specific sculpture informed by consultation and creative engagement.

Projects can include practical workshops, drawing and design activities, written responses or community consultation, with selected ideas subsequently translated into metal and incorporated into the finished artwork.

This approach can be particularly effective for:

school and university commissions · healthcare environments · regeneration and placemaking projects · memorial and remembrance sculpture · corporate community projects · public-realm commissions · anniversary and heritage projects

Each project is developed specifically for its location and participants rather than adapting an existing sculpture to fit.

Commissioning a community sculpture

A project can begin with a broad theme, an important event, the history of a site or simply a desire to involve the people who use a particular place.

From there, I can develop the artistic concept alongside an appropriate programme of engagement before designing and fabricating the permanent sculpture at my studio.

To discuss a public art, education or community-engagement sculpture commission, please contact James Sutton Sculpture.

Bespoke Memorial Tree Sculpture

Permanent memorial sculpture for St Frances Special School
Personalised memorial leaves added over time
Designed as an evolving place of remembrance

Memory Tree was commissioned for St Frances Special School to create a permanent and sensitive place of remembrance for children and members of staff who had died.

Rather than creating a memorial that represents a single moment in time, the sculpture was designed to continue evolving with the school community. Individual leaves can be personalised and added to the tree whenever required, allowing new names and memories to become part of the artwork while retaining the integrity of the original design.

A memorial designed to grow

The tree was chosen as a symbol of life, connection, memory and continuity.

Each individual leaf represents a person, while together the leaves become part of a larger form. This balance between the individual and the whole allows the sculpture to acknowledge personal loss while also reflecting the shared community surrounding the memorial.

As additional memorial leaves are commissioned and added, the tree gradually develops its own history. In this way, the artwork is never completely static; it continues to change alongside the people and community it represents.

The intention was to create something contemplative and permanent without feeling sombre — a place where remembrance becomes integrated naturally into the everyday life of the school.

Personalised memorial leaves

A key part of the design is the ability to create individual personalised leaves and add them to the sculpture in the future.

This allows the memorial to remain visually coherent while avoiding the need to create separate plaques or monuments over time. Each new addition becomes part of the existing artwork.

The same approach can be adapted for other settings, with leaves incorporating names, dates, short inscriptions or other carefully considered details appropriate to the project.

[VIEW THE MEMORY TREE PROJECT]

Bespoke memorial sculpture commissions

I work with schools, hospitals, hospices, charities, businesses, community organisations and private clients to create permanent memorial and remembrance sculptures.

Each project is developed specifically for the people and place it represents. The form does not need to be a tree; the starting point might instead be a meaningful natural form, symbol, shared memory or element connected to the identity of an organisation.

Projects can include:

memorial trees with personalised leaves · remembrance gardens · sculptures commemorating students or staff · hospital and hospice memorials · donor and legacy artworks · anniversary pieces · private family memorials · evolving remembrance installations

Where appropriate, a sculpture can be designed from the outset so that additional names, leaves or individual elements can be incorporated over many years.

Creating a permanent place for remembrance

Memorial sculpture requires a different approach from creating a purely decorative artwork. The work needs to have visual presence while remaining appropriate to the people, memories and environment it represents.

I work closely with clients to develop the initial concept, materials, scale and method of personalisation, with the aim of creating something that feels both individual and enduring.

To discuss a memorial sculpture for a school, healthcare environment, organisation, private estate or remembrance garden, please contact James Sutton Sculpture.

Centenary Heritage Sculpture Commission

Stainless steel
Approx. height: 7 ft / 2.1 m
Commissioned by RAF Waddington
Created to commemorate the Station’s centenary in 2016

Similar bespoke commissions from £20,000

Commissioned by RAF Waddington to mark the Station’s 100th anniversary, this permanent stainless steel sculpture was designed to celebrate a century of aviation history while creating a distinctive landmark outside Station Headquarters.

Rather than attempting to represent the Station’s entire history literally, the sculpture brings together a series of carefully selected elements with particular significance to RAF Waddington.

At the centre of the composition are two of the aircraft most closely associated with the Station: the Avro Lancaster and Avro Vulcan. Both played important roles in Waddington’s history, from its wartime association with Lancaster operations through to its later role as a major Vulcan base. RAF Waddington confirms that the Station operated the first Avro Lancasters and became home to Vulcan bombers in 1957.

Connecting history, identity and place

The sculpture was also designed to acknowledge the Station’s relationship with the wider Lincoln community.

Details depicting Lincoln Cathedral were incorporated into the stainless steel, creating a visual connection between RAF Waddington and one of Lincolnshire’s most recognisable landmarks.

This combination of aircraft, architecture and contemporary metalwork allows the sculpture to function as more than a commemorative object. It tells a story about heritage, place and organisational identity through a single permanent artwork.

Positioned outside Station Headquarters, the sculpture was intended to create a strong focal point for personnel, visitors and those entering the Station.

At approximately seven feet high, it has sufficient scale to command its setting while the open stainless-steel construction retains a sense of lightness and movement.

“The Lancaster and Vulcan are two iconic aircraft that played an important part in RAF Waddington’s proud history. I am extremely grateful to James Sutton for scuplting such a wonderful piece to celebrate the Station’s 100th Anniversary. Furthermore, the etchings of Lincoln Cathedral pay homage to our close links with the city of Lincoln, which continues to provide excellent support to the Station and its personnel. Positioned outside of Station Headquarters the sculpture will command the attention of all those that pass through the gates of RAF Waddington.”

Group Captain Al Marshall, Station Commander at RAF Waddington

A bespoke sculpture for a significant anniversary

Anniversary commissions offer an opportunity to recognise the history of an organisation without simply creating a traditional monument or plaque.

A sculpture can bring together important moments, people, architecture, products, symbols or achievements and reinterpret them as a contemporary artwork specifically designed for its location.

This makes the approach particularly suitable for:

corporate anniversaries · company headquarters · universities and schools · military and emergency-service organisations · museums and heritage sites · visitor destinations · regeneration projects · donor and legacy commissions

The finished artwork can become both a permanent record of an organisation’s history and a distinctive part of the identity of the site.

From organisational history to sculpture

I work with clients to identify the elements of their story that are most meaningful and consider how these might be translated into sculpture.

That could involve historic imagery, architecture, products, machinery, people, landscapes or symbols associated with the organisation.

The objective is not simply to reproduce those elements in metal, but to develop them into a coherent contemporary artwork capable of standing independently while still retaining a clear connection with the people and place it represents.

Materials, scale and composition can then be developed specifically around the intended site.

Bespoke heritage and corporate commissions

I create site-specific sculpture for businesses, organisations, institutions, private clients and public bodies, from commemorative and heritage projects to major contemporary installations.

Projects can be developed around a significant anniversary, company history, individual achievement, local heritage or the identity of a particular site.

To discuss a bespoke heritage, anniversary or corporate sculpture commission, please contact James Sutton Sculpture.

James Sutton Sculpture on BBC One

In 2020 I was invited to take part in BBC One’s Home Is Where The Art Is, appearing in Series 2 alongside artists working across different disciplines.

The programme followed artists as they responded to a real client commission, developing an original work of art around the interests, home and story of the people it was being created for. My episode centred on a couple looking for an artwork to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.

For me, the programme provided an opportunity to demonstrate an approach that remains central to my commissioned work today: understanding what matters to a client and translating that into an individual piece of sculpture rather than simply offering an existing design.

From television commission to an evolving collection

The programme introduced my handmade stainless-steel fish sculptures to a much wider audience.

Each fish is individually cut, formed and finished by hand, giving subtle differences in shape, texture and pattern. They can be displayed individually or combined into flowing shoals, where a collection of separate forms creates a larger sense of movement.

Following the BBC broadcast, interest in the fish resulted in hundreds of individual commissions, helping the collection develop into a continuing strand of my studio practice.

Today, smaller fish sculptures and shoals are periodically available through my online shop, while larger compositions can be developed as bespoke commissions for private collectors, gardens, interiors, businesses and architectural spaces.

Personal sculpture commissions

One of the most rewarding aspects of commissioned sculpture is the opportunity to create something that has a particular significance to its owner.

A commission might celebrate an anniversary, marriage, family connection, important place, memory or shared interest. The starting point can be an existing theme within my work or an entirely new idea developed specifically for the client.

Depending on the project, I can explore different concepts through drawings, maquettes and material samples before developing the final sculpture.

This process has led to work ranging from smaller personal pieces to substantial sculptures for private gardens, estates and collections.

Stainless steel fish sculptures

My fish sculptures continue to be created in a variety of formats, including:

individual fish · small freestanding shoals · wall-mounted compositions · circular shoals · large-scale outdoor installations · bespoke architectural commissions

Scale, number of fish, surface pattern, arrangement and display can all be adapted to suit a particular location.

For larger projects, the same individually handmade forms can be brought together to create installations such as Collective Motion and the monumental Shoal commission.

Smaller works are occasionally available through the Shop, or contact me to discuss a bespoke sculpture or shoal.

Featured on BBC One

Home Is Where The Art Is was broadcast on BBC One in 2020. I appeared in Series 2, Episode 8.

Bespoke Stainless Steel Fish Sculptures & Installations

Each composition can be created to suit a specific space, from a few individual fish to large-scale architectural shoals.

Shoal Forms is a collection of contemporary stainless steel sculptures developed from my monumental Shoal installation, exploring the movement, rhythm and collective behaviour of fish.

Each sculpture is created from individually formed stainless-steel fish, arranged to create a sense of flow and movement through space. From a small group of fish to a substantial architectural installation, the composition can be developed specifically for its setting.

The individual fish remain clearly visible, yet together they form a larger sculptural gesture. This relationship between the individual and the collective is an idea that runs throughout much of my work — how separate forms can retain their own identity while contributing to something larger.

Designed for the space

A Shoal Forms sculpture can be created as a freestanding or wall-mounted artwork, allowing the work to respond directly to the architecture, landscape or interior in which it will be displayed.

The number of fish is completely flexible. A piece might consist of a restrained group for a private home or garden, or hundreds of individually formed fish creating a much larger installation across a wall, reception area or architectural space.

The overall shape, scale, direction and density of the shoal can also be designed around a particular location. Long flowing formations can emphasise architectural lines, while circular, sweeping or more concentrated compositions can create a strong focal point.

This makes the collection particularly suited to private residences, contemporary gardens, corporate offices, hotels, restaurants, cruise ships, hospitality interiors and commercial developments.

Bespoke fish, species and finishes

Each commission can be individually developed rather than simply enlarging or reducing an existing design.

Different fish species, body shapes, surface patterns and proportions can be explored, allowing the sculpture to have a particular connection with its location or client.

For coastal properties, hotels or cruise environments, the species might reference local marine life. For a private collector, the composition might instead be developed around a favourite place, memory or visual idea.

The reflective qualities of stainless steel allow the sculptures to interact continually with their surroundings. Light, architecture, landscape and movement are picked up across the surfaces of the individual fish, causing the work to change throughout the day and from different viewpoints.

From private sculpture to architectural installation

The flexibility of the concept allows Shoal Forms to work across very different scales.

Smaller sculptures can create a distinctive focal point within a home, office or garden, while larger bespoke installations can be developed for hotel lobbies, atriums, corporate headquarters, cruise ships, landscaped developments and other significant architectural spaces.

For architects, interior designers and art consultants, compositions can be developed to complement an existing interior scheme or respond to architectural drawings during the design stages of a project.

Each Shoal Forms commission is individually designed according to scale, number of fish, materials, mounting and installation requirements.

To discuss a bespoke stainless steel shoal for a private collection, commercial interior or architectural project, please contact James Sutton Sculpture.

Occasionally available from my shop or to commission singularly or in shoals.

A site-specific stainless steel shoal created for Saxilby Canal, developed through an intergenerational engagement project with local school pupils and care-home residents.

Monumental Stainless Steel Bird Sculpture | Bespoke Private Commission

Monumental Stainless Steel Bird Sculpture | Bespoke Private Commission

Stainless steel
[Dimensions]
Created: 2019–2020
Site-specific private commission, Isle of Man
Developed through drawings, maquettes and client consultation
Similar monumental commissions from £50,000

Birds in the Sky is a monumental stainless steel sculpture created as a bespoke commission for a private business collection on the Isle of Man. Developed specifically for its landscape setting, the work translates a personally significant idea into a contemporary sculptural composition.

Inspired by the biblical passage in Genesis describing the skies being filled with birds, the sculpture uses a group of individually formed birds to explore movement, freedom and upward flight.

Rather than illustrating the passage literally, the birds combine to create a sweeping three-dimensional composition. Their relationship changes according to viewpoint, while the reflective stainless steel continually responds to daylight, weather and the surrounding landscape.

The reflective qualities of stainless steel allow the sculpture to respond to its surroundings, picking up changes in daylight, landscape and architecture and giving the work a different character throughout the day.

From initial concept to approved design

An important part of this project was the development process.

The commission began with a series of drawings and initial design ideas, exploring different arrangements, proportions and ways of translating the client's chosen theme into sculpture.

Selected concepts were then developed into physical maquettes, allowing the composition to be considered three-dimensionally before work began at full scale.

These models gave the client a clear understanding of how the finished sculpture might look and provided an opportunity to discuss and refine the design. Feedback was incorporated throughout the process until the final composition was agreed.

Only then did fabrication of the finished stainless steel sculpture begin.

This collaborative approach gives clients involvement in the development of their artwork while allowing the final piece to retain a clear and coherent sculptural identity.

From concept to finished sculpture

The birds are individually formed in stainless steel before being brought together as a larger composition.

Although each bird is a separate object, their positioning creates a shared direction and rhythm. Open space between the forms is as important as the metal itself, helping the composition retain a sense of lightness despite the permanence and strength of the material.

The result is a contemporary sculpture that changes according to where it is viewed from, rather than presenting a single fixed image.

A personal idea transformed into sculpture

Birds in the Sky demonstrates how a commission can begin with something personally significant to the client — a passage of text, belief, memory, natural form or particular idea — and develop into an original artwork.

I work with private collectors, businesses, art consultants, interior designers and organisations to create sculpture specifically for homes, gardens, estates, commercial properties and architectural spaces.

A bespoke commission can begin with a clear idea or simply a conversation about the setting and what the client would like the work to represent. Drawings, visualisations and maquettes can then be used to explore the design before the final piece is created.

I work with private collectors, businesses, architects, art consultants and designers to create significant site-specific sculpture for private estates, corporate landscapes, hospitality destinations and architectural spaces.

Similar monumental commissions currently start from approximately £50,000, with final costs determined by scale, materials, engineering, location and installation.

To discuss a monumental or site-specific sculpture commission, please contact James Sutton Sculpture.

Contemporary hand-formed stainless steel bird sculpture by British sculptor James Sutton, part of the Bird Studies collection for private collectors and interiors.

Bird Studies is an evolving collection of individually hand-formed stainless steel sculptures exploring the shape, movement and character of birds.

Each piece begins with a simplified interpretation of the bird’s form. Stainless steel is cut, hammered and shaped by hand, reducing the subject to sweeping lines, planes and silhouettes while retaining a recognisable sense of movement and personality.

Rather than reproducing birds anatomically, I am interested in capturing a moment — a turn of the body, the extension of a wing or the sense of a bird about to take flight.

Individual sculptures and small collections

These smaller works offer a more intimate counterpart to my larger Birds in Flight installations.

Individual birds can be displayed as standalone sculptures or brought together in pairs and groups, allowing different relationships and compositions to develop between them.

Their reflective stainless-steel surfaces respond to changing daylight and surrounding colours, meaning the sculptures continually alter according to their setting and viewpoint.

They are suited to contemporary interiors, gardens, private collections, offices and hospitality spaces, either as individual pieces or as part of a larger arrangement.

From individual bird to architectural installation

The ideas explored within these smaller sculptures also form the basis of my larger Birds in Flight commissions.

For collectors, designers and commercial clients, the number, scale and arrangement of the birds can be developed specifically for a particular location — from a small wall-mounted grouping to a substantial suspended or freestanding installation.

Larger bespoke projects can be created for private residences, estates, hotels, corporate interiors, atriums and architectural spaces.

Available work

Individual stainless steel birds and small groups are periodically available through the Shop.

For larger compositions and site-specific installations, please see Birds in Flight or contact me to discuss a bespoke commission.

View available sculptures →
Explore Birds in Flight commissions →

Corten steel life size sheep sculptures for a private client by James Sutton Sculpture.

60 year wedding anniversary commission. Ring for each year married.

Corten steel

2018

Private commission

Manx Loaghtan Sheep

Stainless Steel frame and horns, clad in Cor-ten steel.

Lincolnshire Long Wool Sheep

Public art commission for Branston village near Lincoln.

Galvanised Steel

Ram Sculpture created out of 316 stainless for a private client. Inspired by their partners favourite football team. Stands around 70cm tall.

Butterfly sculpture created for DIY SOS Scunthorpe.

Stainless steel and copper.

Public Commission for Leighton Buzzard Council to create 6 decorative bridge panels, inspired the local history and community engagement workshops. 2013-14

Created in collaboration with Spitfire Forge

‘Swale Bridge’ Balustrade Commission for Leighton Buzzard Council. Inspired the local landscape and wildlife, informed by community workshops. Made up of 18 galvanised steel panels.

2013-14

Created in collaboration with Spitfire Forge

Public Art commission to create a series of beautiful & inspiring cast metal finials from aluminium. Working with over 100 community members, participants designed and made thier own fish in clay. These were then cast in aluminium at the studio and instaled along side James’ own creations on Haven Bank in Boston, Lincolnshire.

PROJECT BLOG

Commission for Broughton School. Design inspired by workshops with the students.

Stainless Steel, Ancaster Boulder

Stainless Steel and Copper.

Commission for Local Primary School.

Entrance sculpture for a local school, created out of 316 stainless steel featuring the schools values in the various languages spoken at the school.

‘Courage’

Commissioned as a memorial to a student at North Kesteven School in Lincoln.

Created in collaboration with Spitfire Forge

Private Commission for a retired Vulcan Pilot.

Stainless Steel

Public art Commission for Transported. Inspired by workshops with the community. Made out of galvanised Steel, Located outside the Geoff Moulder Leisure center in Boston uk.

PROJECT BLOG

Stainless Steel and gold leaf

Stainless steel on slate base.

Stallion Sculpture in 316 Stainless Steel.

SOLD

Commission for Local primary school.
Influenced by designs and models created by the students to represent their parents in the forces.

Commission for Tesco Lincoln, designed by local student (pictured)

Holton Le Clay Village Hall Sign

Stainless and galvanised steel

Pigmy goat sculptures for private collectors garden.