James Arthur Woodford RA, OBE
Born 25 November 1893
Died 8 November 1976
Active: 1908 - 1976
Country of birth and death: England
Sculptor, painter, engraver
Born in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire. He was the son of Samuel Woodford (1868-1945 born and died in Nottingham), a lace designer. James attended Nottingham School of Art between 1908 and 1915 and then served from 1915 to 1918 with the 11th Sherwood Foresters. On demobilizaton Woodford continued his studies at Nottingham School of Art (February 1919 to September 1920) and then at the Royal College of Art (September 1920 to December 1921 funded by en ex-Serviceman's grant). In 1922 he was awarded the Prix de Rome in Sculpture. Woodford's three years of study at the British School at Rome were interrupted by his mother's illness and death in May 1924. He was given a leave of absence (c.May-September) during which time he made a 6'x 5' panel of the 'Descent from the Cross' at Nottingham School of Art.
On completion of his scholarship in 1925, Woodford embarked on a busy and successful career building a reputation primarily as an architectural and heraldic sculptor. From 1926 to 1970 he was a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, where he showed models or studies for commissions, together with smaller carvings in wood, portraits, statuettes, and figure groups as well as paintings and drawings. Woodford's versatility later prompted his obituarist in 'The Times' to remark on his fine draughtsmanship, his skills as a portraitist, and his accomplishment as a designer of architectural and heraldic sculpture.
Woodford's larger commissions included: 'Prosperity' for Nottingham Council house (c.1928-9); bronze doors for the Liverpool Royal School for the Blind (1931); the bronze doors and stone pylon figures for the Royal Institute of British Architects' building in Portland Place (1932-4, architect Grey Wornum); wooden screens and bronze uplighters for the cabin-class smoking room of the Queen Mary (c.1934); carvings of a mermaid and seahorses for the exterior of the Good Intent Restuarant, Chelsea (1935, a collaboration with two former BSR scholars, the architect Charles Minoprio and the painter Edward Halliday); the bronze doors and bases of two flagposts for Norwich City Hall (unveiled 1938); a putto fountain for the garden of the Assembly House, Norwich (designed 1930s, installed 1954); carved stone figures and panels depicting the 'Spirit of Art' and 'Spirit of Literature' for Huddersfield Library and Art Gallery (c.1939); a stone panel 'The Hart' for Hertfordshire County Hall (c.1939); a statue thirteen feet high, of the Rt Hon. D. S. Senanayake, First Prime Minister of Ceylon; sculpture for British cemeteries in Italy commissioned by the Imperial War Graves Commission; carved groups of Thor and Marlborough for the Royal Naval Engineering College, Manadon; carved doors in wood and other materials for the main hall of the Carpenters’ Company, London; carved panel and keystones for Coutts Bank, Lombard Street, London; a memorial bust of Canon Wylie Blue for May Street Church, Belfast; the Second World War memorial fountain and statues in the central courtyard of British Medical Association House, Tavistock Square (c.1951-4, unveiled 1954); groups representing 'Agriculture' and 'Sea and Fisheries' in Portland stone flanking the main entrance of the Ministry of Agriculture, Whitehall (c.1952); the Robin Hood bronzes, Nottingham (c.1953-4); a substantial sculptural scheme for the Lloyd's of London building comprising: reliefs in Portland stone of the four elements, the coat of arms of Lloyds, and 84 pier heads topping capitals on the Lime Street and Billiter Street ends of the building (1954-7); a memorial bust on a granite plinth to Coxswain Henry Blogg, Cromer; the Ebenezer Howard Memorial, Welwyn Garden City; Lion and Unicorn for Wandsworth County Court; aluminum panels for the St. John's Wood Barracks; and a bronze garden column for Dr Lawrence Pilkington, Frodsham, Cheshire.
In 1953 Woodford was commissioned to make ten six-foot high 'Queen's Beasts' in plaster to decorate the approach to Westminster Abbey for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. This project won him particular renown. In 1958 Woodford was commissioned to carve a set of the 'Queen's Beasts' in Portland stone (the works were paid for by Sir Henry Ross, Chairman of the Distillers Company in Edinburgh) and these are now located at Kew Gardens outside the Palm House. Meanwhile, the original plaster 'Queen's Beasts', after fulfilling their original role and temporary display at Hampton Court and Windsor, were gifted to Canada (1959). They are now in the collection of the Canadian Museum of History.
Woodford's success led to a commission from the Ministry of Public Buildings in 1962 for a new design for the Royal Coat of Arms. This relief, made in three sizes, was distributed as necessary to British embassies, important overseas missions, Royal Courts of Justice, and other major Crown buildings in Britain and abroad. The casting was done by Carron & Co. in Falkirk and Morris Singer and Co. in London each work took about four months to complete. Amongst the cities and countries that contain examples of this coat of arms (and other commissions for embassy buildings) are: Ottawa; Mexico City; Buenos Aires; Washington, DC; Delhi; Athens; Colombo; Trinidad; Tehran; Swaziland; and several locations in Italy.
He was an active member of a number of societies and institutions, including: the Art Workers Guild (1927-46, with a gap between 1932-6); the Royal Society of British Sculptors (1934-68); Associate, full member, and Senior member of the Royal Academy (1937, 1945, 1968); Royal Mint Advisory Committee (1946-). In recognition of a distinguished career Woodford received the Order of the British Empire in 1953.
Writing about Woodford's service during the Second World War, the Asiatic scholar and retired civil servant, Reginald E. Enthoven captured something of the artist's character and versatility: 'Beneath a burly countrified appearance, Woodford was an artist of very considerable sensitivity, as was borne out also in his drawings. During World War II, as an Air Ministry camouflage officer, he found himself a trifle bewildered, in a motley group mostly architects, painters or sculptors much younger than himself, and rather edgy from the blitz, to draw with unfamiliar instruments and, when necessary squeeze into small aeroplanes. All this he took with a tolerant twinkle, looking forward to the day when he might return once more to his studio, to concentrate on work for which his talent was so eminently suited.' 'James Woodford', R.E. Enthoven, RIBA Journal, vol. 84, no. 1, January 1977, p. 42.
Wealth at death: £23,309 0s. 0d.
Probate date: 1 March 1977
Works
Dates are usually the year a work was exhibited so may differ from date of production.
New entries have been made each time a work was exhibited. Click here for more information.
Flower Woman
1928 (Presumed)
Madonna and Child
1928 (Presumed)
Torso of a Young Boy
1931 (Circa)
Boy and Tortoise
1933
Pegasus
1933
Carved Figure
1935
Italian Peasant
1935
Peace of Entering
1938
Health on Departure
1938
Daphne
1938
Restoration
1949 (Presumed)
Jürgen
1949 (Presumed)
Dancing Torso
27 June 1949 - 7 August 1949
Locations
Address 36 Alfred Street Nottingham | View on map
1911 (Circa)
Address 38 Alfred Street Nottingham | View on map
1921 - 1928 (Presumed)
Address 71 Poynder's Road Clapham Park London SW4 | View on map
1927 (Presumed) - 1928
Address Scarsdale Studios Stratford Road London W8 | View on map
1928 - 1930
Address 5 Adelaide Road London NW3 | View on map
1930 - 1948 (Circa)
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Exhibited at Exhibition of Works by Local Artists (Nottingham Castle Museum), 1928
'Madonna and Child'
Exhibited at Nottingham Artists To-Day, 1949
Multiple works
Exhibited at Leeds City Art Gallery, Inaugural Exhibition of the Work of Living British Artists, 1927
'Bambino'
Exhibited at City of Manchester Art Gallery, Exhibition of the Work of Living British Artists, 1927
'Female Torso'
Exhibited at Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1935
'Italian Peasant'
Exhibited at Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Masters, 1933
Multiple works
Exhibited at Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1931
'Torso of a Young Boy'
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts (Summer Exhibition), 1768-
1926 - 1970
Exhibited 43 times, 142 works in all (24 times and 58 works prior to 1951), a mixture of sculptures, drawings and paintings. The sculptures Woodford exhibited comprised a mixture of models or studies for commissions, often architectural and heraldic works, together with smaller carvings in wood, portraits, statuettes, and figure groups.
Exhibited at Palace of Arts Empire Exhibition Scotland, 1938
1938
Exhibited at The Royal Scottish Academy Exhibition, 1826-
1938 - 1948
Exhibited at the annual exhibition 3 times: 1938 (3 works), 1939 (5 works) and 1948 (4 works)
Exhibition committee member for The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts, The One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth (Summer Exhibition), 1944
4 April 1944 - 14 April 1944
Selection committee member of The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts, The One Hundred and Seventieth (Summer Exhibition), 1938
5 April 1938 - 14 April 1938
Served on the Selection Committee and was responsible for the arrangement of sculpture. See Royal Academy, 'Annual Report, 1938' (1939), p. 30.
Selection committee member of Chantrey Bequest (Chantrey Fund; Royal Academy of Arts), 1875-1948
1939 (Presumed) - 1952 (Presumed)
Served on the Recommending Committee in 1939, 1940, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1951 and 1952 (Royal Academy, 'Annual Report, 1939', 1940, p. 21).
Selection committee member of The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts, The One Hundred and Seventy-Eighth (Summer Exhibition), 1946.
9 April 1946 - 18 April 1946
Served on the Selection Committee, and was responsible for the arrangement of sculpture. See Royal Academy, 'Annual Report, 1946' (1947), p. 24.
Won prize Constance Fund, 1944-
1948
Institutional and Business Connections
Associate member of Royal Society of British Sculptors
2 April 1935 - 1938
Became fellow in 1938.
Committee member of The Royal Mint
1946
Served on the Royal Mint Committee of Medals and Seals.
Elected ARA Royal Academy of Arts
2 March 1937 - 27 April 1945
Elected RA in 1945.
Elected RA Royal Academy of Arts
27 April 1945 - 31 December 1968
Then became Senior RA until his death in 1976. Woodford's Diploma work was a bronze head entitled 'The Musician'. See Royal Academy, 'Annual Report, 1945', (1946), p. 74.
Fellow of Royal Society of British Sculptors
1938 - 1968
Member of Art Workers Guild
17 June 1927 - 1946
Resigned 1932, rejoined 1936, resigned 1946.
Member of Royal Society of British Sculptors
1934 - 1968
A.R.B.S., 1934/5; F.R.B.S., 1938-68
Member of council Royal Society of British Sculptors
1940 - 1949
Served as a member of the Council in 1940, from 1944 to 1946, and from 1948
Member of council Royal Academy of Arts
1946 - 1951
Served as a Member of the Council from 1946 to 1947, and from 1951. See Royal ACademy, 'Annual Report, 1945', (1946), p. 26.
Studied at Nottingham School of Art
11 September 1921 - 1921 (Presumed)
See 'Alphabetical List of Students' (1920-1921). Date of entry to the school is recorded here. Listed as a student, aged 25, living at 38 Alfred Street, Nottingham, in 1920-1921. Occupation listed as sculptor.
See press cutting from 'N.J. [possibly Nottingham Journal]', 21 June, 1934 in the 'Nottingham Local Artists Card Index', City Archives, Nottingham. No dates are given. See also Hall, 'Artists and Sculptors' (1953), p. 94.
Visitor at Royal Academy Schools
1947 - 1948
Listed as a visitor to the Sculpture School from 1947 to 1948. See Royal Academy, 'Annual Report, 1947', (1948), p. 29.
Personal and Professional Connections
Nominated by Joseph Else
For membership of the RSBS
Nominated by (Joseph) Hermon Cawthra
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors
Nominated by Stanley Anderson
22 April 1934
For Associate of the Royal Academy [ARA].
Nominated by Gilbert Ledward
22 April 1934
For Associate of the Royal Academy [ARA].
Nominated by William McMillan
22 April 1934
For Associate of the Royal Academy [ARA].
Nominated by Malcolm Osborne
22 April 1934
For Associate of the Royal Academy [ARA].
Nominated by Alfred Turner
22 April 1934
For Associate of the Royal Academy [ARA].
Nominated by Charles Thomas Wheeler
22 April 1934
For Associate of the Royal Academy [ARA].
Nominator of Arthur James John Ayres
For membership of the RSBS
Nominator of William James Bloye
1 March 1938 - February 1946
Two nominations for Associate of the Royal Academy [ARA], in 1938 and 1946, both unsuccessful.
Nominator of Edward Bainbridge Copnall
1939
For membership of the RSBS
Nominator of E. Roland Bevan
January 1945
For Associate of the Royal Academy [ARA]; unsuccessful.
Nominator of David McFall
27 April 1945 - 27 April 1954
Two nominations for Associate of the Royal Academy [ARA], in 1945 and 1954.
Nominator of Estcourt James Clack
24 April 1946 - April 1954
two nominations for Associate of the Royal Academy [ARA], in 1946 and 1954, both unsuccessful.
Nominator of Karin Margareta Jonzen
21 April 1949
For Associate of the Royal Academy [ARA]; unsuccessful.
Nominator of Eric Clare Telford Schilsky
21 April 1950
For Associate of the Royal Academy [ARA].
Worked with Gerald (Gerolamo) Giudici
According to information submitted by James Butler RA, the carving firm owned and operated by Gerald and Raimondo Giudici carved a number of architectural sculpture schemes for James Woodford. Butler was employed by Gerald Giudici to carve the Queen's Beasts at Kew Gardens as well as other projects.
Worked with Raimondo Evereto Giudici
According to information submitted by James Butler RA, the carving firm owned and operated by Gerald and Raimondo Giudici carved a number of architectural sculpture schemes for James Woodford. Butler was employed by Gerald Giudici to carve the Queen's Beasts at Kew Gardens as well as other projects.
Sources
Aberdeen Artists' Society. Twenty-first Exhibition of Works of Modern Masters, 1931
November 1931
p. 57
Aberdeen Artists' Society. Twenty-Third Exhibition of Works of Modern Masters, 1935
November 1935
p. 51
Annual Report from the Council of The Royal Academy to the General Assembly of Academicians for the Year 1944, 1945 Royal Academy Annual Reports
1945
pp. 17, 21-22
Annual Report from the Council of The Royal Academy to the General Assembly of Academicians for the Year 1947, 1948 Royal Academy Annual Reports
1948
pp. 17, 28-29
Art Workers Guild Annual Reports, 1913-1933
1927, p.10; 1932, p.15 and all lists of members' addresses 1928-1933.
Catalogue of the Exhibition of the Work of Living British Artists
1927
Cat. No. 388, pp. 36, 46
Catalogue of the Inaugural Exhibition of the Work of Living British Artists, Leeds City Art Gallery 1927
1927 (Presumed)
Cat. No. 344, pp. 23, 31
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
2009
RG14PN20570 RG78PN1230 RD430 SD3 ED30 SN210
Exhibition of Works by Local Artists, May, 1928 Nottingham Society of Artists
May 1928
p. 34.
Find a Will
2014
Name: Woodford, James Arthur
Death: 8 November 1976
Probate: 1 March 1977
Page: 9036
List of Members: Royal Society of British Sculptors
2008
Local Artists Index, Nottingham Nottingham Local Studies Collection, Central Library, Nottingham
See numerous cards in the index for James Woodford; these include press cuttings from the 'Nottingham Evening Post', on the 29 December, 1932 and on the 30 May, 1977 [summary].
Nottingham Artists To-Day, 1949 Nottingham Society of Artists
June 1949
p. 22.
Nottingham School of Art. Alphabetical List of Students, 1920-1921 Nottingham School of Art
1921
Unpaged.
Palace of Arts
Empire Exhibition
Scotland
1938
The Fine Art Section of the Empire Exhibition
1938
Public Sculpture of Liverpool Public Sculpture of Britain
1997
pp. 21-2
Public Sculpture of the City of London Public Sculpture of Britain Volume Five
2003
pp. 224-5
Royal Academy of Arts Nominations for Associateship, 1927-1938
1938
p.213, p.247.
Royal Academy of Arts Nominations for Associateship, c.1939-c.1961
1961 (Circa)
p.34, p.104, p.181, p.205, p.222.
Royal Society of British Sculptors. Annual Report of the Council, for the Year Ending 31 December 1949, to be Presented at the Forty-Sixth Annual General Meeting, 1950
February 1950
p. 2.
The fifty-fourth annual report of the committee of the Art-Workers' Guild, 1938
1938
p.18.
The fifty-third annual report of the committee of the Art-Workers' Guild, 1937
1937
p.19, p.47.
The sixty-second annual report of the committee of the Art-Workers' Guild, 1946
1946
p.11, p.40.
The sixty-third annual report of the committee of the Art-Workers' Guild, 1947
1947
p.13.
The Times Digital Archive 1785-1985
2008
Mr James Woodford.
The Times (London, England), Saturday, Nov 13, 1976; pg. 14; Issue 59860
The Times Digital Archive 1785-1985
2008
A Chelsea Restaurant Reconstructed.
The Times (London, England), Saturday, Sep 28, 1935; pg. 10; Issue 47181. (402 words)
Category: Arts and Entertainment
The Times Digital Archive 1785-1985
2008
'New Design for Royal Arms', Times [London, England] 29 Dec. 1962: p. 8. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 7 Oct. 2017.
Who was Who
December 2007
‘WOODFORD, James’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014 ; online edn, April 2014 [http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whowaswho/U161158, accessed 7 Oct 2017]
Citing this record
'James Arthur Woodford RA, OBE', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=msib2_1208277486, accessed 30 Mar 2023]