Rufus Martin
Based in Beaminster
Rufus is an award-winning portrait sculptor. Member of the Society of Portrait Sculptors and receiver of Queen Elizabeth Trust grant funding. His work has been on show in many galleries and shows, notably Bowman Sculpture of St James Park, the RBA Rising Stars show, The Face22, 23 and 24 and the Chelsea Art’s Club.
My introduction to sculpture; like with so many people, was through my parents. My mother a portrait painter first showed me the portrait works of Augusta Savage, Jacob Epstein and Augustine Rodin and inspired me to create a bust on Michael Howells; My late mentor. Sadly Michael died suddenly and unexpectedly and my first bust was as a response to his passing and then from there I went on to create sculptures of intriguing individuals always hoping to capture some element of their past or current struggles and to create something for the good of the community they inhabit and wherever possible for posterity.
Rufus has won the Sculpture Portrait Society Tiranti prize for best work by a young sculptor 2 years running. He has also won the prestigious Morris Singer Foundry Prize and the Signature Art Prize. In 2024, he received funding from the Queen Elizabeth Trust Scholarship. His work has also been selected for a show with Bowman Sculpture. He has been shortlisted for many competitions, including the RBA Rising Stars show, The ACS Studio Prize, and Tebbs Contemporary.