AN INTERNATIONALLY-renowned sculptor favoured by the Royal family is to hold an exhibition at a picturesque lakeside setting near Dorchester.

British sculptor Simon Gudgeon will showcase 21 years' worth of work at his Sculpture by the Lakes gallery - including a selection of never-seen-before pieces.

Entitled Coming of Age, the socially-distanced event will be the largest collection of Simon’s work ever exhibited and will trace his artistic journey from early figurative wildlife pieces to his contemporary semi-abstract representations which feature in the private collections of three generations of the Royal Family.

The sculptures will include wildlife sculptures, abstract bird forms, kinetic sculptures, skull sculptures, and outdoor pieces, as well as a series of early drawings from his private collection, never on public display before.

Visitors can also expect to see dramatic mixed-media resin paintings along with beautiful bronze gallery sculptures.

Simon Gudgeon said: “When it occurred to me that I had been a sculptor for 21 years, I decided the time was right to bring together a ‘Coming of Age’ exhibition spanning that creative lifetime and exploring the evolution of my work, from its formative development to ‘adulthood’.

“Just as nothing around us stays the same, I am never content to ‘stand still’ either. Developing new ideas, trying new approaches, and pushing my creativity further – these are the things that have always excited me, as this exhibition demonstrates.”

Coming of Age – a retrospective of work by Simon Gudgeon is now on until October 24.

Due to Covid-19 measures there will not be a traditional opening event for the exhibition but the gallery will be open to sculpture park visitors from Wednesday to Sunday from 10am - 5pm until the end of September, and from Tuesday to Saturday from October 1.

Private viewing outside those times can also be arranged by appointment.

In keeping with Covid-19 requirements, visitors will need to wear masks and sanitise their hands before entering. There will also be a restriction on the number of people allowed in the gallery at one time to allow for social distancing.

For more information see www.sculpturebythelakes.co.uk

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