Christy Symington MRSS

Figurative sculptures modelled in clay stay at the forefront of Christy’s signature range of work made from ad hoc materials.  Her focus on making sculptures of people hidden in our history brings their presence into our lives as well as highlighting historically significant legacies, often people of colour and women.  Driven by research it prompts new materials and how to work with them, or pushes process into new combinations to find a solution with drawing as a base essence that is a joy through her practice.

Current commission of Ignatius Sancho sculpture in colour glazed ceramic for the Grade II listed wall of Greenwich Park in 2024. Christy has had solo shows in New York and London. Permanent art collection acquisitions by UK Parliament, 9/11 Memorial & Museum NYC, Royal Museums Greenwich on display in the Queen's House and International Slavery Museum Liverpool where it debuted as a highlight in its 10th anniversary exhibition ‘Ink and Blood: stories of abolition’ 2017. Exhibitions include Salon d’Automne Paris 2019 and 2018, Messums Wiltshire ‘Revelation of the Head’, The London Group 2023, Royal Cambrian Academy (Highly Commended), Royal Scottish Academy, Royal West of England Academy, Society of Women Artists, Chatham Historic Dockyards, RSS Members 'Summer Exhibition' 2023, 2021 and 2018, DSWF 'Wildlife Artist of the Year 2023' Finalist. Solo shows include The Stephen Lawrence Centre ‘SCULPTURE & SPOKEN WORD for Stephen Lawrence’ in 2016 with invited poets Abiodun Oyewole and Caleb Femi and ‘OLAUDAH EQUIANO MAN AND BROTHER’ in 2015, Angel Orensanz Foundation NYC and featured in Black Cultural Archives ‘Black Georgians’ 2016, ‘Avril/Symington’ at Marist College NY 2012. Lifesize tiger sculpture commission in ZSL London Zoo. Others include Young Masters Prize Tour, University Women's Club, Pardon Mill Gallery Harlow, Freedom to Create Prize, RSS Centenary University of Leicester, National Arts Club NY, 3 years Society of Portrait Sculptors, Chiang Mai University Thailand, DACS, Conway Hall, Royal West of England Academy Sculpture Triennial, Pangolin London and Threadneedle Prize. 

Member of RSS since 2002 and Council Member 2003-07. Christy studied traditional figure sculpture and drawing in Paris at Les Ateliers Beaux-Arts Montparnasse and Glaciere and the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. 4 years at the New York Studio School USA with Merit Award for Sculpture and selected exchange to Slade School of Art, London. MA in Fine Art 2002 from Byam Shaw [Central Saint Martins], University of the Arts UAL London. Her mother is a sculptor and maternal grandmother was at the Slade in 1926. Through her twenties Christy worked in advertising, marketing, television and 3D graphic design companies in London Auckland and Sydney with backpack travels around the world.