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A wonderfully endearing and thought-provoking stoneware sculpture by contemporary British artist Shirley Sharp, depicting a characterful face with exaggerated features, an upward tilt and, most intriguingly, a blindfold covering its eyes.

With its prominent rounded nose, softly pursed lips and head raised towards the sky, In Good Faith has a lovely sense of warmth and vulnerability. The blindfold adds an entirely different dimension to the sculpture. Is this character placing its trust in someone or something, stepping into the unknown, or simply choosing not to see what’s directly in front of it? There’s something rather touching about that combination of uncertainty and optimism.

The sculpture is particularly interesting when viewed from different angles. From the front, the exaggerated facial features give it an almost comical quality, while from the side, the blindfold becomes much more apparent, wrapping around the head in a broad sweep of white. It’s a lovely detail that gives the sculpture both visual interest and a deeper sense of meaning.

Hand-sculpted in stoneware clay, the piece has a beautifully rugged, tactile surface. Soft buttery yellows, warm creams, earthy greens and subtle touches of dusty pink create a wonderfully weathered finish. The visible marks, creases and irregularities are all deliberately retained, giving the character a sense of having lived a life.

Shirley’s sculptures explore human behaviour, emotions and the curious ways we connect with one another. Inspired by years of sketching people in everyday settings, she deliberately exaggerates features while retaining a sense of believability. Her work often balances humour with tenderness and vulnerability, reflecting the sometimes complicated relationship between how we present ourselves to the world and how we feel inside.

What we particularly love about In Good Faith is how beautifully its title works alongside the blindfold. There’s something very human about putting our faith in things we cannot see or know for certain. Yet Shirley leaves plenty of room for interpretation, allowing each viewer to bring their own experiences and ideas to the piece.

A wonderfully unusual and expressive sculpture that brings warmth, personality and a little food for thought to any space.

Height: 23cm
Width: 15.5cm
Depth: 22cm

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A wonderfully intriguing and thought-provoking sculptural group by contemporary British artist Shirley Sharp, featuring six abstract stoneware figures gathered around a small wooden table.

At first glance, the scene feels wonderfully familiar – a group of people sitting together, perhaps sharing a meal, having a conversation or simply enjoying each other’s company. Five figures, finished in soft, weathered shades of pale green and grey, surround a contrasting dark figure at the head of the table. Their simplified forms and lack of facial features give the gathering an almost mysterious quality, leaving us to wonder who these characters are and what might be happening between them.

The story behind Eating from the Same Table is particularly interesting. Shirley originally created the piece in response to an exhibition called Overlooked, inspired by the area around Sharpness Canal. She was thinking about the relationship between people who drop litter and those who pick it up – two groups whose actions are closely connected, yet who may remain completely invisible to one another. By bringing them together around the same table, Shirley explores the idea that we can share the same spaces and experiences without necessarily acknowledging each other.

Interestingly, once the sculpture was completed, Shirley also recognised a resemblance to the Last Supper, opening up another possible interpretation. As with much of her work, she enjoys leaving room for viewers to bring their own stories and perspectives to what they see.

The figures themselves are beautifully tactile, with rough, irregular surfaces that reveal Shirley’s hands-on approach to working with stoneware clay. Their muted, earthy finishes contrast wonderfully with the dark central figure and the warmth of the little wooden table. We particularly love the way the figures lean towards one another, creating a sense of interaction despite their wonderfully abstract forms.

Shirley’s sculptures explore human behaviour, relationships and the curious ways we connect with one another. Often humorous, sometimes a little absurd, her work also has a lovely sense of tenderness and vulnerability. Rather than creating specific individuals, she sees her characters as representations of something we can all recognise in ourselves and others.

Eating from the Same Table is a particularly engaging example of her work. It’s a sculpture that invites you to look a little closer, consider the relationships between the figures and perhaps reflect on the people we share our own lives and communities with.

A wonderfully original and conversation-starting piece, full of character, texture and meaning.

Height: 18cm
Width: 36cm
Depth: 36cm

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A wonderfully characterful and expressive sculpture by contemporary British artist Shirley Sharp, featuring a rather determined-looking face with exaggerated features and a strong sense of personality.

With its prominent nose, heavy brow, firmly set lips and head tilted slightly upwards, Headstrong has an almost defiant expression. There’s something wonderfully stubborn about this character, as though it’s made up its mind about something and absolutely nobody is going to change it! Yet there’s also a lovely sense of humour and vulnerability beneath that rather resolute exterior.

Cast in Jesmonite, a hard, plaster-like composite material, the sculpture has been finished in rich, earthy brown tones that emphasise its beautifully rugged surface. The deep creases, irregular features and visible marks give the face an almost weathered, timeworn appearance, as though this character has plenty of stories to tell.

Shirley’s sculptures explore human behaviour, emotions and the curious ways we connect with one another. Inspired by years of sketching people in everyday settings, she deliberately exaggerates features while retaining a sense of believability. Her characters often sit somewhere between the humorous and the vulnerable, reflecting the sometimes complicated relationship between how we present ourselves to the world and how we feel inside.

What we particularly love about Headstrong is its unapologetic individuality. It’s not a conventional portrait, nor is it trying to be. Instead, it’s a wonderfully expressive character that invites us to recognise something familiar in its exaggerated features and determined expression.

A charmingly unconventional sculpture that would bring warmth, humour and plenty of personality to a shelf, sideboard or favourite corner of the home.

Height: 23cm
Width: 19cm
Depth: 16cm

We take great care in ensuring our listings are accurate and true to life. To read reviews by customers who have recently purchased artworks from us, click here.