Four times awarded 5 Gold Stars at RHS Chelsea
SCULPTOR, Creative Director
James Coplestone
What is your favourite sculpture from the Robert James Workshop range?
Ratty and Mole. I love how they enjoy simple pleasures like a picnic by the river or even spring cleaning. Domestic life bliss.
What is your favourite book from childhood?
Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.
Which new sculptures in the works are you most excited about sharing with the public?
The Tiger Who Came To Tea by Judith Kerr. I used to love telling this story to my young children and now, sometime later, my son is modelling the Tiger. How incredible!
Which children's book character can you relate to most?
Danny, Champion of the World. I envied the relationship between Danny and his father and the kindness between them.
You display at RHS Chelsea Flower Show each year and you have won numerous accolades for your sculptures. Can you tell me why the show is so special for RJW and your favourite part of the event?
For 12 months we are in isolation in the workshop creating our pieces with the company of radio, podcasts, a crackling fire, and our beautiful dog Ember – then for one special week, we show our collection. Seeing the faces of visitors and onlookers makes it all worthwhile!
Which part of the bronze sculpture making process do you most enjoy?
Model making in clay – seeing the clay come to life and almost breathe as the characters take shape.
Which sculpture in the collection has proved the most challenging project and which elements made it particularly tricky?
The Whale and the King. Water features are challenging at the best of times and this one provided a few hurdles to get right.
Can you tell us about your workshop? Can you describe the space and what makes it such a wonderful environment for creativity?
We are lucky to be in the heart of the countryside on the Dorset/Somerset border. Quiet spaces to lose ourselves; down a farm lane in a shallow valley where we get frequent visits from the natural world.
Can you tell us about the beginning of your creative relationship with Robert? Where did you first meet?
We both worked for Theatre of the Heart where we instantly gelled and have worked in many different guises over the years in theatre, education, and training.
Can you tell me about your role at Robert James Workshop?
Sculptor, Creative Director. I have strengths in characterisation and particularly enjoy deciding which character we will turn our attention to. I’m constantly learning new things about the approaches to sculpting while always listening to the master, Bob.
What does a normal day at work look like for you?
Always different – never one day like the last!
SCULPTOR
Robert Ellis
What is your favourite sculpture from the Robert James Workshop range?
Aesop’s Crow. I have a passion for sculpting birds – although the first Alice figures rate highly in my list of favourites.
What is your favourite book from childhood?
Probably Winnie the Pooh, but I loved the Rupert books too.
Which new sculptures in the works are you most excited about sharing with the public?
I'm looking forward to finishing the Curlew and sharing it with the public.
Which children's book character can you relate to most?
Christopher Robin – he went on the most interesting adventures!
Can you tell me about your favourite part of RHS Chelsea Flower Show?
It is a high-profile, international show that allows our work to be seen by potential clients from around the world. My favourite part of the event is the private view day.
Which part of the bronze sculpture making process do you most enjoy?
The modelling process – bringing images from 2D to 3D is a fascinating process.
Which sculpture in the collection has proved the most challenging project and which elements made it particularly tricky?
Christopher Robin, Pooh, and Piglet on the bridge. It was a tricky task to get Christopher Robin looking natural in his pose playing Pooh-sticks.
Can you tell us about your workshop?
I have a studio at my home in Beaminster which is at the bottom of my garden. The process of walking down the garden path allows me to leave preoccupations behind and turn my attention to creating.
Can you tell us about the beginning of your creative relationship with James?
Jim and I started working together for Theatre of the Heart. I was a performer and created environmental sculpture, and Jim was the costume designer. The partnership grew from there.
Can you tell me about your role at Robert James Workshop?
Sculptor.
What does a normal day at work look like for you?
I am either modelling new pieces in clay or putting the final touches to sculptures from the foundry, making them ready for delivery. I also work on the waxes prior to casting.
Director
Karen Watkins
Can you tell me about your role at Robert James Workshop?
Horticulture and customer care.
What is your favourite sculpture from the Robert James Workshop range?
My favourite sculpture is The Barefoot King. This original, charming, and humble character created by James is very close to my heart. The Barefoot King embodies the essence of James and his deep yearning to escape the weight of responsibility and go barefoot into nature, exploring the simple joys and beauty of the natural world. A longing many of us have!
What is your favourite book from childhood?
My favourite books from childhood are the Flower Fairies series, taking you through all the seasons. As a child, I spent many wonderful hours in the woods, creating gardens and banquet tables for all the different flower fairies. I often visited the next morning and believed they’d had a big party seeing my creations were upturned!
Which new sculptures in the works are you most excited about sharing with the public?
Well, I am of course very excited for the public to see our new range of sculptures that are being created in the workshop at the moment. My particular favourite is The Tiger Who Came to Tea, which is a water feature where the tiger is gulping tea from the teapot!
Which children's book character can you relate to most?
I have always felt an affinity with squirrels. Having climbed a lot of trees as a child and enjoyed their beautiful elegance, playful cheeky nature, and lively spirit, so I guess Squirrel Nutkin is the character that I can relate to most.
Junior manager
Louis Coplestone
Can you tell me about your role at Robert James Workshop?
Sculptor, Advertising.
What is your favourite sculpture from the Robert James Workshop range?
My favourite piece from the Robert James Workshop range has to be Mr. Toad in His Motorcar. Taken directly from the original Wind in the Willows illustrations, it’s a wonderfully humorous sculpture, full of life and energy.
What is your favourite book from childhood?
Growing up, The Adventures of Tintin was my favourite book, but The Tiger Who Came to Tea was a close second. I even have a funny memory of my dad scaring my sister and me as kids by holding up a giant stuffed tiger to the window – our very own unexpected tea guest!
Which new sculptures in the works are you most excited about sharing with the public?
The sculpture I’m most excited to share with the public has to be The Tiger Who Came to Tea. This is my first major piece for Robert James Workshop. I’ve always loved art and have done smaller sculpting projects in my own time, but this is the first that will become an official piece for the website.
What's your favourite part of RHS Chelsea Flower Show?
For me, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is particularly special during the build-up. We have the chance to completely design our stand, which is one of my favourite parts of the process. It’s such a rewarding experience to sit down, sketch, and discuss ideas, figuring out how we can create our own little world within this vast, creative environment.
Explore the Robert James Workshop collection
If you'd like to find out more about any of the garden sculptures or projects mentioned in today's blog, or would like any advice about finding the perfect bronze creation for you home and garden, please don't hesitate to get in touch. We'd love to chat!
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