Peter Coates

Biography

A background in architectural sculpture, stone carving and lettering is the foundation on which Peter Coates has produced an extensive range of work since establishing his own studio in 1994.

Now based in North Yorkshire his varied output has been built around a core of commissioned and collaborative work, he has developed a distinctive voice extending beyond a single craft discipline and displaying an inventive design sensibility.

An important aspect of his activity has been to create work in response to its particular surroundings, be it the built or the natural environment, aspiring to add context and further layers to a given place.

A productive collaboration with Scottish artist, poet & gardener Ian Hamilton Finlay resulted in a series of international commissions, both public and private, including numerous pieces in Finlay's highly regarded garden at Little Sparta.

A prestigious NESTA Fellowship has enabled the realisation of interdisciplinary collaborative projects and allowed room to explore more diverse materials and media that continues to inform his practice.

"A bit of a grounding in masonry has been quite useful, you get to learn about dealing with cusps".

 photo: Simon Thackray.

• 1980

  Foundation, Somerset College of Arts and Technology

• 1986

  City and Guilds Stonemasonry/Diploma in carving and lettering, Weymouth College, Dorset

• 1988

  English Heritage Stone carving Studio, Vauxhall Walk, London

• 1990

  York Minster Carving Workshop

• 1991

  Dick Reid's Workshop, York

• 1994

  Established own studio

Work

• 2016

  'Springer Stone' & 'Swatch Block' - Hull

• 2015

  'Mothstep' - Shandy Hall, Coxwold

• 2014

  'Unbalanced Bench' & 'Talking Point' - Malet Lambert

  Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh - Alec Finlay 'Taigh'

• 2013

  'Locklines' - The Canal & Rivers Trust

  'Doppelgänger' - toured

• 2012

  Kibblesworth, Gateshead

• 2011

  Victoria Gardens, Leeds

  'Sightline' - Wyke College, Hull

• 2009

  'Hortus Conclusus' - Little Sparta, Lanarkshire *

  Victoria & Albert Museum - design shortlist

  The Walled Garden, Scampston

• 2008

  'Muse X' & 'Only Connect Bridge' - Jupiter Artland *

• 2007

  'Textus' - Wellington Place, Leeds

• 2006

  James Hill Monument - Bottle Bank, Gateshead

• 2005

  'Miners Window' - inscription/sculpture. St. Mary & St. Joseph,Goldthorpe,Doncaster

• 2004

  'The Iffley Knot' - Memorial sculpture sited in the curtilage of the 12th Century church of St. Mary the Virgin, Iffley, Oxford

  St. Gallan, Switzerland - lettered stainless steel balustrade *

• 2003

  Allschwil, Basel*

  'Fleur de L'Air', Provence - from 1997 - 2003 - Multiple works in 20 acre site *

  Trinity Centre, North Ormesby - Architectural lettering and carving

  Aumbry Doors - All Saints church, North Cave, East Yorks

  'When All Means....' - York

• 2002

  Beverley Minster Commission - shortlisted designs

  Carrara International Biennale *

  Neanderthal, Germany - Insribed bench *

  Luxembourg Casino - Inscription *

• 2001

  'Speaking To Us From The Margins' -The National Centre For Early Music, Walmgate, York

  Sheffield Cathedral - shortlisted designs

• 2000

  'Cythera'- Hamilton Palace Grounds, Lanarkshire *

• 1999

  Erfurt Federal Labour Court, Germany - Inscribed benches *

  Hamburg, Germany - Inscription *

  'The Present Order' - Barcelona *

• 1998

  Hofvijver, The Hague - 'Et In Arcadia Ego', inscription and intervention. *

• 1997

  Serpentine Gallery - entrance circle, 8 benches & tree plaque, all inscribed *

• 1996

  Durham Botanic Gardens - 'Foxgloves', oak carving *

* indicates collaborative work with Ian Hamilton-Finlay

Exhibited

• 2016

  'Paint Her To Your Own Mind' - The Laurence Sterne Trust

• 2015

  Contemporary Applied Arts

• 2011

  The Emblem of My Work' - The Laurence Sterne Trust

• 2009

  The Walled Garden, Scampston

  Contemporary Applied Arts

  'The Black Page' - Laurence Sterne Trust

• 2006

  Tate Triennial, Tate Britain *

• 2005

  'L'Idylle Des Cerises' - Ingleby Gallery, Edinburgh *

  Newby Hall - North Yorks

  Laurence Sterne Trust

• 2004

  'Inside Out' - Contemporary Applied Arts

• 2003

  'Idylls And Interventions' - Victoria Miro, London *

  Hub, Sleaford

• 2002

  'Maritime Works' - Tate St. Ives *

• 2001

  National Centre For Early Music, York

• 1999

  'Variations On Several Themes' - Fundacio Joan Miro, Barcelona *

• 1998

  'Modern Antiquities' - Landesmuseum, Mainz *

• 1996

  'Grains Of Salt' - Oriel Mostyn, Llandudno *

Awards, Memberships etc.

• Civic Trust
• NESTA - Fellowship 2006-2008
• Contemporary Applied Arts
• Crafts Council - Selected Maker
• Letter Exchange
• Crafts Council - Setting Up Scheme Award