Robert (Bob) Ellis (born 1952) is a British figurative sculptor and one half of the collaborative studio Robert James Workshop, where he works alongside artist James Coplestone. Ellis is known for his bronze sculpture, traditional modelling techniques, and exploration of sculptural form inspired by nature.[1] In addition to his collaborative practice, he maintains an independent career producing portraits, site-specific commissions, and personal figurative works.[2]
Ellis was born in 1952 and grew up in the Potteries, the historic ceramics-producing region of Staffordshire. He is the grandson of a journeyman stone mason, a family connection that introduced him early to the world of craft and material.[3]
He trained in figurative sculpture at Stafford College of Art under Stuart John Osbourne (ARCA).
Ellis has lived and worked in West Dorset for more than thirty years.
Ellis works primarily in clay, modelling in terracotta before collaborating with a fine-art foundry to cast his sculptures in bronze. His work is noted for its vitality, sensitivity, and attention to the dynamics of sculptural form, often drawing inspiration from natural movement and organic structure.
He also undertakes commissions, producing portraits and bespoke site-specific sculptures for private clients and public settings.
Ellis has collaborated extensively with artist James Coplestone, with whom he co-founded the Robert James Workshop.[4] Together they produce limited-edition bronze sculptures and water features, many inspired by classic literature. Their practice centres on traditional clay modelling and the lost-wax (cire perdue) casting process.[5]
The pair hold licences with several major literary estates, including those of Beatrix Potter, Lewis Carroll, Norman Thelwell and Judith Kerr.[6]
Their Alice in Wonderland collection has been exhibited in Chelsea, Edinburgh, Cheltenham, and Oxford, and is currently shown in galleries in Bath and Belfast.[7]
Robert James Workshop is based in West Dorset and has been active for more than three decades.[8] The studio is known for its craftsmanship, narrative bronze works, and garden sculptures.
The workshop has exhibited regularly at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, receiving five Gold Stars for excellence in design and craftsmanship.[9]
Works by Ellis and Robert James Workshop have been displayed internationally, including:
Ellis’s work is characterised by:
His sculptures blend realism with expressive modelling, aiming to capture both physical presence and emotional resonance.[12]
Ellis typically begins with terracotta modelling before working with a specialist foundry to cast the final bronze. The process includes clay modelling, mould-making, wax casting, bronze casting, and patination.[13]
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