David Nash

Sculptor

David Nash (b. 1945, Esher, Surrey) has built up an international reputation as a sculptor in a career spanning fifty years. After studying at Kingston College of Art he moved to Blaenau Ffestiniog, north Wales in 1967, a place he had spent many family childhood holidays, before returning briefly to London for postgraduate study at Chelsea College of Art. His first solo exhibition was held in York in 1973, since when there have been numerous large-scale solo exhibitions all over the world, many with site-specific projects. Following Richard Harris, David Nash was the second residency artist at Grizedale in 1978 and created site-specific sculptures in the forest. His work is featured in countless group exhibitions and held in public art galleries and private collections worldwide. Although known primarily for his sculptures in wood, some of which are planted works, drawing has also been a cornerstone of his practice. Throughout his career he has maintained a studio in Blaenau Ffestiniog, working with the seasons and elements. His work was recently celebrated in a major retrospective at National Museum Wales, Cardiff and Towner Gallery Eastbourne with an accompanying publication David Nash 200 Seasons at Capel Rhiw.

Clare Burnett

President of the Royal Society of Sculptors

Clare Burnett is a British artist, raised in France and Belgium and working in London. She is President of the Royal Society of Sculptors. Her work is a process-led response to the issues, objects and spaces around her. She scavenges from her surroundings; plays with, reconfigures and transforms her ‘finds’ in the studio; then arranges them in groups to create interactions with each other and the space beyond. Clare studied Architecture and Social and Political Studies at Cambridge University and Fine Art at the Byam Shaw School of Art. Solo and group shows include Leighton House Museum; William Benington Gallery; the University of Leeds; Contemporary Sculpture Fulmer; the Royal Academy; the National Gallery; the Jerwood Space; the RIBA; and the Royal Society of Sculptors in the UK; Sanyi Wood Sculpture Museum in Taiwan and Studio Block M74 in Mexico. She has completed site-specific installations in spaces such as Le Corbusier’s Unite d’Habitation, France; Brompton and Norwood Cemeteries and Bishopsgate Square. London. This year her first public sculpture was installed in China.

Hazel Stone

Arts Development Manager, North England Forest District

Hazel Stone is the Arts Development Manager for the Forestry Commission covering the North of England Forest District. With a specialism in sculpture, Hazel is leading the development of the renowned Grizedale Forest Sculpture collection in the Lake District and the establishment of its contemporary exhibition programme. Previous roles include curator of the Sidney Cooper Gallery, Director of Curious Planet, artist and lecturer.

Nia Roberts

After studying textile design Nia Roberts forged a career with various arts organisations, often working on pivotal projects, from founding the BAFTA Cymru Screen and Television Awards in the early 1990’s; the Artes Mundi International Visual Art Prize in the early 2000’s, to establishing the presence of Wales as a key Collateral Pavilion at the Venice Biennale of Art for the Arts Council of Wales. She started working with visual artists in the mid 1990’s at Cywaith Cymru . Artworks Wales, then the national organisation for public art in Wales, fostering links with many sculptors and artists working in the public realm. The ethos of the organisation, and the way it nurtured artists, giving them varied opportunities to develop ideas and projects, has had a lasting impact. In a move back to her native north Wales in 2008 she worked as Centre Manager at Ty Newydd, the National Writing Centre for Wales, before returning to the visual arts and currently manages various site-specific projects and special exhibitions at Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw on the Llyn peninsula.