Dates

• Existence: Born c1965

Biography

After completing a degree in Fine Art, specialised in Sculpture at Sheffield Art College in 1983, Anthony spent 6 years working in collaboration with other artists, musicians and film makers, on many innovative performances, happenings, films, artworks and alternative music recordings, most notably with Fabricata Illuminata, in The Nursery, The Anti Group and Roberta Graham. He also produced illustrations and graphic works, under the name Metroviral Visuals. Around 1989, Anthony began creating quality sculptural exhibits for museums and heritage centres, building quite a reputation for himself, with clients such as English Heritage and The Natural History Museum. In 1998, Anthony started to work with artist Yinka Shonibare MBE, alongside costumier Mary Charlton, creating many significant artworks, leading to Yinka’s shortlisting for The Turner Prize in 2005, and many successful shows worldwide. Work continues Anthony’s first large scale sculptural commission in bronze, ‘The Enchanting World of Beatrix Potter’ was unveiled in Bowness on Windermere, Cumbria, in April 2006, in the presence of Renee Zellweger and the cast and crew of the movie ‘Miss Potter’.

In 2008, Anthony’s sculpture ‘The Great Omi’, created in collaboration with contemporary novelist Joolz Denby for her show ‘The Body Carnival’, caught the attention of Professor Vanessa Toulmin of the National Fairground Archive, who re-presented it at Showzam 2009, at Olympia, Blackpool. This led to the commissioning of ‘Humbug What is it?’, which celebrated the 200th birthday of PT Barnum, made possible with the support of the NFA, Showzam and an award from Arts Council England.

Widespread press and media coverage of the various presentations of Humbug has led to Anthony becoming known as ‘The Showman Sculptor’ and a variety of new associations and collaborations have resulted therefrom. 2011 will see the presentation of a series of artworks, entitled ‘Bespoke Cutting Edge Sheffield’ produced by Anthony and Sheffield’s last grinder, Brian Alcock, highlighting the plight of Sheffield’s few remaining ‘Little Mesters’.