Friends and former students

Thank you for visiting this website.

Some of Stuart J. Osborne’s friends and former students have very kindly shared their memories and thoughts on this page, and some links are provided to the work that they are doing now.  We very gratefully thank them all for their time and generosity.

A message from his family – Margaret, Lisa, and Phil

“He was a great artist, and a great man, whose creative genius, talent, patience, humour, and kindness were inspirations to his family, his students, and the many who knew him and his work.  He was extremely scholarly, and academically studious – always learning and originating wonderful ideas – but he was never too busy to help people, as he believed in enthusiastically encouraging and supporting people to help them achieve their dreams and to live the life of creativity.  He was a lovely and caring man of integrity, who loved art.  A modest and retiring man who did not put himself first, not a self-promoter or self-publicist, but rather always placing his family, his students, and his art before himself, and, for that, and for so many other reasons, he was and is greatly loved.” 

Andy DeComyn

Andy DeComyn is a very experienced, international public artist who has carried out prestigious commissions in Britain and Europe.

"I have fond memories of Stuart Osborne.  He and his course were hugely influential to my career and without it I don’t think that I would be practising public art.  Sadly, art education is missing the great practitioners such as Stuart Osborne, and seems to be saturated with theoreticians who cannot pass on advice and techniques born of a lifetime of experience."

Visit Andy DeComyn at: www.publicart.co.uk

John Fiddler

John Fiddler, of Medicine Head, is a successful songwriter and musician, and: ““Fiddlersophical" (the latest Medicine Head album) was released in October 2011 by Angel Air Records”, but, that same year, John Fiddler said: “….the highlight of my year is undoubtedly having privilege to pay tribute to a great artist, a man of great integrity, sensitivity, and inspiration."

"Stuart J. Osborne was my tutor at Stafford Art School in 1966/67. He was a most wonderfully inspiring man. His encouragement and sensitivity to creativity meant so much to me, and I know that his benevolent spirit has helped me so much in my creative life. He was a great inspiration and confidence builder for me, and many other of his students. When I was at Stafford, I built an enclosed workspace inside the main sculpture studio - I wanted a private space to work in. He would bring a piece that he was working on into my space, and we would work together, student, and Master. He was truth, honesty and trust, a great human being, and a great Artist. From a rebellious student's perspective, he truly understood, and released, a young, free spirit. I just want to express my eternal thanks to him."

“He was a most wonderful, inspiring man.  The site is looking really good, and is something I feel he would be one with.”

Visit John Fiddler at: www.john-fiddler.co.uk
See ‘The John Fiddler Story’ here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vxwCE3zPGI
See John and Peter Hope-Evans (Medicine Head) at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f5RWNTPT1c

Andru Fijalkowski

Andru Fijalkowski is an artist, who works in a variety of different media, with his own sculpture studios.

"Stuart John Osborne was the most influential man in my life, and he has put me on my pathway. He was one of the finest artists I have ever met; he gave me the opportunity in life, not only his great skills, but his patience and understanding will always be with me. It was wonderful to see images of Stuart Osborne’s work, to see his image again awoke lots of memories, he taught me so much, and gave me my freedom and understanding about life. His work will shine, this I have no doubt. I am also a little sad to know that I missed many occasions when I could have spent more time with such a fine man, and maybe have a victory in Chess."

“I felt and feel that he is always here.  He will live on in my life as long as I have breath.  I still feel he is "just up the road" and always will be.  I loved and respected Stuart Osborne, and I will carry that with me always.  My website is work in progress, Stuart Osborne is there, he is in me and my work, you just have to look.”

Visit Andru Fijalkowski at: www.andrufijalkowski.com

Jonathan Hateley

Jonathan Hateley is a sculptor, based in the U.K. His sculpture is produced in bronze and resin bronze casts that are suitable for indoors, outdoor public art, and the garden.

“It must be about 30 years ago that Stuart Osborne let me come to his course once a week while I was still at school in the 6th form, as a way of filling the time I had between A-level lessons. It was a great opportunity for me and very unusual. It was also my first experience of drawing from nude models, so for someone still at school, it was quite different from the lessons I was used to at the time. I loved going there and learnt so many of the technical aspects of sculpture which must have stayed with me to this day. I still have the cheetah and gazelle I sculpted with his tuition. He was very complimentary about my abilities, in that he asked me to join his course rather than go on the usual Foundation course at Stafford when I had finished school. I think he even spoke to my mom to try to persuade me, but in the end, I went with convention and did the foundation. Its strange now, that after the varied career I have had, I am now doing sculpture. As I face the challenges of making a living in sculpture and finding my way, it is likely I would probably have benefited from more time with him.”

“It was so good to see his work and also pictures of him after so many years.”

Visit Jonathan Hateley at:
www.jonathanhateley.com
Jonathan's '365' Blog
Jonathan's '365' on Facebook

Graham Heeley

Graham Heeley is an abstract and figurative sculptor, specialising in wood and stone carving and acrylic resin casting.

Graham Heeley says of Stuart Osborne, and his unique and world renowned sculpture course run at Stafford Art College:  "I suppose I just assumed that Stuart Osborne was always around and busy so it is upsetting to hear that he has gone.  I always had an underlying smug satisfaction that I had such a good teacher and have heard down here in the south east that his course had a kind of cult respect reputation amongst a number of people that I have come across."

Visit Graham Heeley at: www.grahamheeleystudios.com

Robert Leighton

Robert Leighton is a teacher and artist.

“You cannot imagine the impact Stuart Osborne had upon me. I think of him often and I speak of him to many.”

“I was lucky enough to be introduced to Stuart when I did my Foundation Course at Stafford College of Art in 1972.  This was to be in the small space, within the Sculpture Department, given over to the young, and somewhat anxious Foundation students, adjacent to the 'inner sanctum' where Stuart's adherents were working from life and who had elected to study with him, rejecting 'the path well travelled' into the Degree courses.  This was my first formal introduction to figurative modeling.  Here I modeled hands in clay.

After a move on to a disastrous and miserable experience at Stourbridge School of Art, which provided a Fine Art degree but no useful education in the needs of a sculpture student, I returned to Stafford and asked if Stuart would accept me back to what was turning into a very unique atelier of like minded, appreciative students in awe of Stuart’s abilities and passion, and who shared his philosophy.  It is a testament to Stuart's regard for the work of his charges, that the clay hands I had made over three years earlier, had remained in a store cupboard, and he was able to ask me if I wanted them!

In Stuart's remarkable atelier I enjoyed the best 3 years of my young life.  I worked from the life models Stuart brought to the studio, watching him give life to clay, making my own sculptures and drawings, mould-making and casting and exhibiting work in the exhibitions he organised at the Stafford Gallery.  So much a part of my life was the studio, that my son took his first steps in a rudimentary play-pen, which I constructed within the studio.  Whilst I made a portrait of him, Stuart working opposite me, also made a head of him in a bonnet, not unlike the Epstein sculpture of Romily John.  Those figures filled me with awe as I watched them come to fruition before my eyes, and at considerable speed. His 'teaching approach has been my mainstay, in teaching since 1980.  He understood that compassion and the need to instil confidence ,but with quiet words of instruction and guidance was the way to assist learning.  I went on to complete a figure of my son, Matthew, taking his first steps across the play-pen as well as many drawings, life size figures and some smaller figurative studies.

There were too many delights to list during those years, but talking to Stuart and listening to his strongly held opinions, eating sandwiches with him at lunchtime in the studio (like him I did not drink, so a trip to the pub was not a distraction and it was cheaper to stay!) and watching him play chess, with anyone who might be brave enough to take him on, are some of those I cherish.  After those wonderful years, memories of which are still very fresh in my mind, I moved on to train as an art teacher, in order to be able to pay the bills.  Teaching in Kent from 1980 I was lucky to come across Stuart's sculpture in the exhibition in Covent Garden in 1982.   This was the only time I saw one of his works in an exhibition and it was lovely to see others appreciating the sculpture.

I was able to return to see Stuart at the Sculpture School several times before he retired. In 1990 I was also able to celebrate his retirement with so many other past students and to chat with Stuart as we both left the bash.

What Stuart taught me, remains at the centre of my teaching philosophy, and the love of the subject I have been able to pass on to thousands of students in my thirty-two years of teaching.  I remember Stuart telling me that he had been lucky enough to have done exactly what he wanted to do, every single day of his working life.  He knew how lucky he was in that and I am glad for him.

Stafford has yet to fully acknowledge what a massive figure his is.  The body of work that exists surely deserves to be seen by a wider audience.  In my opinion there should be a gallery in Stafford to house a permanent collection of his work, works that I consider a precious 'gift' to the art of this country, of a sculptor who should be recognised and celebrated locally, nationally and internationally.  Here's to an equivalent museum in Stafford to the Garman-Ryan Collection/Museum in Walsall, which would house his work for the appreciation and enjoyment of all that made a visit to wonder at it.  Stuart has given so much to so many young students of sculpture, and his legacy consists of so much more that the physical work he produced.  To have created so much and to have bequeathed so much in one lifetime that endures in the lifetime of others is very special indeed.

Thank you Ozzie!”

“I thought that you may be interested in adding this link or a copy of the text included within the site dedicated to Stuart.  What he gave to me is immeasurable. It is a testament to the man that he NEVER mentioned this to me in all the years I worked in THE MAGICAL SPACE Stuart created at the old Stafford Foundation course premises.”:
www.moma.org/docs/press_archives/1675/releases/MOMA_1953_0005_5.pdf?2010

Allen Necchi

Allen Necchi is a successful sculptor and carver.

Allen Necchi says of Stuart Osborne that it was: “a privilege to be associated with such a great man.”

Visit Allen Necchi at: anecchi.com

Keith Powell

Keith Powell was a student of Stuart Osborne’s from 1978 to 1981.

“Stuart tutored me in Stafford for three years at the end of the seventies and into 1981. I was very proud to be a student of his and the work I did with him and the methods he taught have stayed with me till this very day.  I have the diploma on my wall and I still do work for myself and privately do commissions, drawing, paintings and some sculptures.  I know that Stuart was always making the student feel empowered to better him/herself without conforming to the normal, and it was not just the working by his side that helped you learn, but the endless hours of chats, in the little anti-room, or just late at night in the studios.  Stuart never refused a chat (or chess but I was rubbish at that).  It's the first time I've seen Stuart’s face since leaving college and it brings back years of very happy memories, of not just himself, but all the related people, the family he created and the ethos of true art and study.  Thank you for the website and it was an honour to see his private work also.”

“Recently, I found some pics of me in the studio at Stafford CFE, taken in my final year, by a guy who worked freelance for the newspaper.  I was very pleased to get some exposure for the course and to be seen doing the work was a great joy and thrill especially for my mum and dad.  Stuart Osborne was always secretly pleased I think when the course got publicity, but couldn't be seen to be openly encouraging it.

People got a kick just knowing he would say something, usually a really funny anecdote, or story of something that got the point over.  He was a difficult man to say you completely understood, but I was young so didn't stand a chance.  I played chess with him once, he whooped me, hahaha.  What I do remember is Stuart Osborne knew what he liked and how to get the best out of people.  He didn't suffer fools lightly, gave everyone the same chance and you had to pull your weight. I loved him for that.  He was great with me, especially when I spent about 6 weeks in hospital in my last year, I lost everything I had been working on, yet, I pulled the first double full life sculpture out the bag, with reams of drawings and one thirds life models and even got Evode to supply a large portion of the material to cast the double full life in rock wrap to save funds!  Stuart Osborne stood by me, and I know he took a chance on me and I hope I didn't let him down.  I will miss Stuart, I haven't ever stopped wondering about how he was doing, and sometimes remember listening to Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy on Dave’s old radio, while we were doing a late night, which was a lot more that the rest of the college. Only the ceramics did similar hours :).  He was a wily, super clever guy, who meant a lot to me.”

Martin Smeaton

Martin Smeaton is a figurative sculptor specialising in film, themed architecture and the development of sculptural maquettes for commercial projects.

“When the National Diploma of Art and Design was phased out in 1967 to be replaced with the Diploma of Art and Design it essentially changed the focus of Art Colleges.  Art students were now to be prepared for a world of professional mixed media.  Consequently some specialist subjects were sadly neglected.  I started at Stafford College of Art in 1966 and took a foundation course called the Pre – Diploma to prepare students to go on to do the Diploma of Art and Design (Dip-AD).  I spent a lot of my time drawing in the “life room” and idolized the remaining NDD students at the college who lived and worked as “bohemians”.  Consequently at the end of my year I was rejected as not fit for purpose for Dip-AD.  I was literally heading for the gate of Stafford College of Art when Stuart Osborne stopped me and there and then in five minutes convinced me that I had a career as a sculptor.  How could he see that in me?  I was just 19 years old; now, here I am at the age of 63 having had a successful career as a commercial artist.  At this point he set up a specialized sculpture course and I was to be his first student.  Subsequently many students defected from other courses at the college to join, being uninspired by the dry new style of teaching that came with the pragmatism of that age.   We were all young, he could have told us anything and we would have believed him, but he knew who he was dealing with.  We were all spellbound by him, wide-eyed to his wisdom and uncomfortable truths.  His Friday evening lecture and slide show were not to be missed and always over subscribed.  He was a remarkable man and I will carry the integrity he gave me to my grave.”

“We all had a total respect for his intellect and integrity. His Friday evening lecture (after hours, voluntary and oversubscribed) was preceded with a game of chess between himself and everyone else in the room.  Needless to say he always won, going to great pains to impress on the students that within this game were clues to how to conduct our lives and work.  He would never state it as a fact but would lay down the compelling evidence and leave us to make the decision for ourselves, as was his style of teaching knowing that we were young and impressionable.  His values through my life have given me a quiet confidence.  I've now worked all over the world and many a time have found myself in a room full of characters shouting their ideas, I've found Stuart Osborne’s quiet words coming from my mouth and silencing the room as he could do with simple truths.  Recently I've employed several sculptors who took the course in Stafford, and enjoyed a satisfaction that I had something to do with its creation all those years ago.  Stuart Osborne never viewed death as a tragedy just as another piece of the jigsaw puzzle that makes this fabulous world.  I hope I can pass some of his legacy on to other generations.”

“….I feel I owe him so much.  As I said before I wouldn't be here doing what I do without his help.”

Visit Martin Smeaton at:
www.martinsmeaton.com
www.imdb.com/name/nm0973805

Richard Southall

Richard Southall is a contemporary figurative sculptor and wildlife artist.

Richard Southall says: “Just found Mr. Osborne's website.  It looks great.  Seeing Stuart Osborne’s face after so many years, especially as a younger man was quite emotional.”

Visit Richard Southall at: richardsouthall.com

Katherine M. Waters

Katherine M. Waters has been a practicing Sculptor and International Exhibitor since 1985, after completing her training with Stuart Osborne.  She runs the Banbury based Corpus Gallery with fellow artist Don Henderson.

“Don and I are setting up a gallery.  We have chosen to be part of the famous and historic Tooley's Boatyard in Banbury.  The boatyard is still a working one with courses running in all the traditional crafts such as blacksmithing and signwriting.  The gallery ethos is to present Contemporary Fine Art and Design which has been made using Master Craft techniques.  I think that Stuart Osborne would have liked it.”

“Stuart Osborne taught me strength of line, this has guided me throughout my career.  And I shall always be grateful to him”.

“The site is great, well done.”

Visit Katherine Waters at: www.corpusgallery.com

Birgit Zybell

Birgit Zybell is Lisa's friend and former classmate, as well as a teacher in Italy, and friend of the family.

“I had the pleasure and honour – considering his wonderful as well as numerous works of art – to meet Stuart Osborne and talk to him when staying at Lisa's house.  I admit that, apart from seeing him as Lisa’s father, and Lisa showing me one or two of his smaller sculptures in their house, I had no idea that he was such a great artist! All I knew was what Lisa had told me, and that was that both her parents were artists and that her father also taught at an art school, but nothing more. What impressed me was the wonderful relationship he had with his daughter and that he had a particular passion for Italy and Italian Renaissance artists and sculptors.

Though many years have gone by, I still remember him as a calm and somewhat serious person, maybe reserved at times, but always very kind to me.  Despite being an artist of great talent, he was always very modest, never talked about his work unless directly asked, but on the contrary praising other artists and their works, including his own students.

What I liked about him, as an adult, was the fact that he would listen to us, showing great interest in whatever we had to say and even supporting our views, making us feel like adults too, thereby bringing out the best of us.

Stuart Osborne will always be remembered for all he's created, my compliments. I must say, there are some among his works that look quite familiar, maybe because I must have seen them.  For example, the sculpture entitled “friends", and all those beautiful works, really well done!!!  

Stuart Osborne never talked about what he made and how good he was, it was Lisa showing me some of his works.  He would then just nod but then he would start praising others like the great Italian Renaissance artists, Michelangelo, Raffaello, Donatello, and last but not least Leonardo da Vinci and about his passion for Italian art and cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice.  He was a wonderful person, but far too modest, and his family are doing just the right thing in putting all his works on the web for everyone to admire and to think of him as a great artist.”