Although Robert Brumby predominantly paints these days, for this post we’re going to concentrate on his mid century and later sculpture and ecclesiastical works.

Brumby is a graduate of the Royal College of Art. He set up a studio and Gallery in The Shambles in York city centre. He’s a Fellow of the Royal Society of British Sculptors and, after many years working in art education and lecturing, he became head of the York School of Art and Design in 1990.

He was commissioned by Desmond Williams Associates to create the ceramic reredos (altar screen) of Christ in Glory for the Church of St Augustine’s, Manchester. The brief was that “the piece should not contrast against the dark brick interior if it were to be of such a scale; for fear that it would dominate the space.”

The church interior embellishments by Brumby included the external plaque and statue, holy water stoups, wall light brackets, circular font with ceramic inset and aluminium lid, altar table with bronze inset and, most likely, Stations of the Cross sculptures. Also by him was a memorial plaque fashioned from mangled plate, damaged in the Blitz, commemorating the earlier parish church which this replaced.

He designed the 3-metre high ceramic Madonna and Child statue for the Cathedral of Christ the King in Liverpool (affectionately refereed to as “Paddy’s Wigwam” or sometimes the “Mersey Funnel”.

In addition, he’s responsible for the painted reredos for the Cathedral of St Mary’s, Middlesbrough.

Another Roman Catholic church where his work can be found is St Michael’s, Wolverhampton which was completed in 1968. Behind the altar the reredos (Grade II listed) of The Ascending Christ is formed by a large, full height abstract ceramic relief of the Cross and the Crown of Thorns. He also designed the stone font. The work is described thus:

An abstract design was chosen deliberately in order not to distract the eye from the Altar ceremonies. Its purpose is to aid concentration not compete for it. as to what it depicts, the artist is naturally reluctant to say, for his is not a literal artist. As a painter he communicates his ideas by means of the images he creates; understanding is in the eye of the beholder. However, here are the signposts he offers to guide our eye and our understanding.
What the painting is ‘about’ is the resurrection. It symbolises the story of our human struggle; our spiritual development, our materialistic desire, our hunger for knowledge and truth, our ache for peace.

For a number of years, Robert Brumby divided his time between painting in Yorkshire and the Languedoc in the south of France, while recent works have included seascapes inspired by the Northumbrian coast.

There’s a lovely write up by Rachael Fraser of what Brumby is doing currently; she’s a photographer and he is her grandfather.

 
 
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Additional image credits:
Invaluable | Mainstream Modern| Rachael Fraser Photography