Leicestershire Fox

A sculpture by Sally Matthews

A life size sculpture of a Fox by Sally Matthews has been completed to go on display in the Members Lounge at County Hall before being made available to schools, colleges and local communities in Leicestershire - through the County’s Artworks Collection.

Sally Matthews is reknowned for capturing the characteristic natures of both wild and domestic animals that are in some ways unfathomable, sentient and always distinct. Her work has included Wild Boar, Deer, Sheep, Horses and Wolves – well known examples of her work can be found at both Grizedale Forest and Goodwood Sculpture Park.

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The image of a fox has long been a representation of Leicestershire’s rich hunting history, appearing on both, the Leicestershire County Council logo and the County Coat of Arms. It was felt that this was an appropriate choice of subject to reflect Leicestershire’s heritage.

When the sculpture becomes available to schools it will be used to inform a broad range of curriculum subjects. As well as being used for art activities, it will be used to inspire creative writing and trigger debate and discussion in citizenship, key stage 3 particularly covers animal welfare and explores the debate around hunting.

The Fox sculpture has been constructed in a similar way to a previous commission from Sally - the Giant Elk at Snibston Discovery Park. Sally has worked from a series of sketches that best reflect what resembles an alert light footed fox”. The tail is made entirely out of chains, while spanners, pliers and hooks have been cleverly used to construct other parts of the body. The work can also be used to explore issues around the environment and global warming, the benefits of recycling and careful waste management.

"The metal armature, the start of most of my sculptures, is the equivalent of a quick line drawing from life, this has to have an initial spark, a rightness.”
(Quote from Sally Matthew’s website)

Sally Matthews was born in Tamworth, Staffordshire in 1964. The daughter of a vet, as a child she was fascinated by her father’s veterinary and animal anatomy books. She studied on the Foundation Course in Art and Design at Loughborough College (1981-82) following this with a degree course in the Department of Sculpture from which she graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in 1986. A small sculpture entitled Sheep” was purchased by Leicestershire County Council for the Artworks collection in 1987. To date she has an extensive folio of public sculpture to include work at Sculpture at Goodwood”, Garwnant, Tyrebeggar and Grizedale Forests. Recent exhibitions have included the Robert Sandelson Gallery in London, Peggy Guggenheim in Poland.

She completed both her Art foundation course and Fine Art Degree at Lougborough University.

Sally now lives in Rhosgoch, near Builth Wells, Powys. The spectacular surrounding landscape and the animals both wild and domestic are the inspiration for her work.

Website : www.sallymatthews.co.uk

Sculpture Dimensions: 85cm long x 62cm high x 30cm wide

Weight : 43.6 kg