Jamie McCartney
Encyclopedia
Jamie McCartney is a British sculptor and fine artist working and living in Brighton, England.
in London and went on to graduate as a Bachelor of Fine Art with highest honours in Experimental Studio Art from Hartford Art School, Connecticut USA in 1991.
After that he retrained, taking an HND in model making at Barking College and worked for several London model making companies such as Complete Fabrication and Gavin Lyndsey. He then set up a model making partnership, Gordon & McCartney, specialising in architectural and exhibition models as well as TV props and provided the art department for TV series Renford Rejects. They also worked on the development of many of the Millennium Dome zones, most significantly the Body Zone with designers HPICM and architects Branson Coates. in early 1999 he left the partnership to establish a forge in Hackney, London initially to fulfill a public art commission he had won (a series of abstract farm animal sculptures in steel for Egham town centre, in Surrey). Later that year he again became involved in the Body Zone, helping to sculpt the interiors to resemble over-sized body parts.
This led to his move into the film industry, working as a sculptor on a prop
maker and special effects technician in the film industry. He was frequently employed by Special Effects UK and Asylum, working on films such as Blackhawk Down, Charlotte Gray
and The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
. He also worked directly on films such as Around the World in 80 Days
, V for Vendetta
and Casino Royale
. His last film was Mein Fuhrer shot at Babelsberg studios in Berlin.
He quit film to concentrate on his fine art career, whilst developing his body casting business (a skill he learned working on films). After accepting a commission for Amora - The Academy of Sex and Relationships he moved studios from London to Brighton. Here his first large scale plaster wall sculpture was made, The Spice of Life. McCartney is perhaps best known at the moment for his next large scale wall sculpture, The Great Wall of Vagina. Five years in the making and first shown at his studio in Brighton in May 2010 the sculpture comprises 400 plaster casts taken from volunteer's vulvas.
McCartney established his commercial body casting business, Brighton Body Casting, in 2007 specialising in taking casts of the human body for private clients. He was the Creative Industries winner in the 2009 Sussex Business Awards,. From his studio and gallery in Brighton's Lanes
, he continues to oversee the body casting business whilst working on his other artworks.
McCartney’s frequent appearances in the press and on TV, both at home and abroad, have done much to boost his public profile. He has also cast Trinny Woodall
's and Susannah Constantine
's bottoms for their show as well as celebrities such as Jordan
and Peter Andre
, Phil Tufnell
and Jackie Chan
.
His experience in the film industry has greatly influenced his sculpture practice. The materials and techniques he has adopted from film McCartney uses in his current assemblage-style work, combining such things as animal hides, taxidermy
, human teeth with sculpted and cast body parts. His interest in the human body has led to some of his more unusual work such as Actaeon, a man's torso cast in deer hide and The Impossibility of Passion, the beginnings of his move into what he calls Neo-Surrealism.
Other works include After, a cast taken from his dead father, Car-bon Miles a pedal-powered vehicle and the soon to be launched Great Wall of Vagina,.
His series of works, entitled Sexidermy, involve taxidermied animals reworked with bizarre sexual overtones with titles such as Armadildo and Pussy Cat. There is also his Objet d'Aft series of which Shuttlecocks is a typical example. In addition he is frequently commissioned to create one-off designs of furniture etc. for business and private clients.
McCartney also creates more conceptual pieces. His Messages in Bottles relied on chance and the collaboration of strangers to bring to fruition. His experimental "Sculptography" collaboration with photographer, Miss Aniela, is a further example of his experimental work, as is his "Scanography" series.
TV/Radio
Press
Education
He was educated at the Westminster SchoolWestminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
in London and went on to graduate as a Bachelor of Fine Art with highest honours in Experimental Studio Art from Hartford Art School, Connecticut USA in 1991.
Career
McCartney is a professional artist working in many disciplines. Generally his work has been three-dimensional in nature and often experimental in approach. After graduating from University in the USA he returned to London where he worked for 4 years for antiques importer, David Wainwright, eventually buying for him in India and Pakistan.After that he retrained, taking an HND in model making at Barking College and worked for several London model making companies such as Complete Fabrication and Gavin Lyndsey. He then set up a model making partnership, Gordon & McCartney, specialising in architectural and exhibition models as well as TV props and provided the art department for TV series Renford Rejects. They also worked on the development of many of the Millennium Dome zones, most significantly the Body Zone with designers HPICM and architects Branson Coates. in early 1999 he left the partnership to establish a forge in Hackney, London initially to fulfill a public art commission he had won (a series of abstract farm animal sculptures in steel for Egham town centre, in Surrey). Later that year he again became involved in the Body Zone, helping to sculpt the interiors to resemble over-sized body parts.
This led to his move into the film industry, working as a sculptor on a prop
Theatrical property
A theatrical property, commonly referred to as a prop, is an object used on stage by actors to further the plot or story line of a theatrical production. Smaller props are referred to as "hand props". Larger props may also be set decoration, such as a chair or table. The difference between a set...
maker and special effects technician in the film industry. He was frequently employed by Special Effects UK and Asylum, working on films such as Blackhawk Down, Charlotte Gray
Charlotte Gray (film)
Charlotte Gray is a 2001 British-Australian-German feature film directed by Gillian Armstrong, based on the novel of the same name by Sebastian Faulks...
and The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (film)
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a 2005 comic science fiction film based on the book of the same name by Douglas Adams. Shooting was completed in August 2004 and the movie was released on April 28, 2005 in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and on the following day in Canada and the United...
. He also worked directly on films such as Around the World in 80 Days
Around the World in 80 Days (2004 film)
Around the World in 80 Days is a 2004 American comedy adventure film based on Jules Verne's novel of the same name. It stars Jackie Chan, Steve Coogan and Cécile de France. The film is set in 19th-century Britain and centers on Phileas Fogg , here reimagined as an eccentric inventor, and his...
, V for Vendetta
V for Vendetta
V for Vendetta is a ten-issue comic book series written by Alan Moore and illustrated mostly by David Lloyd, set in a dystopian future United Kingdom imagined from the 1980s to about the 1990s. A mysterious masked revolutionary who calls himself "V" works to destroy the totalitarian government,...
and Casino Royale
Casino Royale (2006 film)
Casino Royale is the twenty-first film in the James Bond film series and the first to star Daniel Craig as fictional MI6 agent James Bond...
. His last film was Mein Fuhrer shot at Babelsberg studios in Berlin.
He quit film to concentrate on his fine art career, whilst developing his body casting business (a skill he learned working on films). After accepting a commission for Amora - The Academy of Sex and Relationships he moved studios from London to Brighton. Here his first large scale plaster wall sculpture was made, The Spice of Life. McCartney is perhaps best known at the moment for his next large scale wall sculpture, The Great Wall of Vagina. Five years in the making and first shown at his studio in Brighton in May 2010 the sculpture comprises 400 plaster casts taken from volunteer's vulvas.
McCartney established his commercial body casting business, Brighton Body Casting, in 2007 specialising in taking casts of the human body for private clients. He was the Creative Industries winner in the 2009 Sussex Business Awards,. From his studio and gallery in Brighton's Lanes
The Lanes (Brighton)
The Lanes are a collection of narrow lanes in Brighton, in the city of Brighton and Hove famous for their small shops and narrow alleyways.-History:...
, he continues to oversee the body casting business whilst working on his other artworks.
McCartney’s frequent appearances in the press and on TV, both at home and abroad, have done much to boost his public profile. He has also cast Trinny Woodall
Trinny Woodall
Trinny Woodall is an English fashion advisor and designer, television presenter and author. She was raised in a wealthy family and was privately educated...
's and Susannah Constantine
Susannah Constantine
Susannah Caroline Constantine is an English fashion journalist, advisor, television presenter, author and designer. Her second book, entitled What Not to Wear, has won her a prestigious British Book Award and sold 670,000 copies....
's bottoms for their show as well as celebrities such as Jordan
Jordan (Katie Price)
Katie Price , previously known under the pseudonym Jordan, is an English media personality, author, former glamour model, occasional singer and businesswoman....
and Peter Andre
Peter André
Peter James Andrea , better known by the stage name as Peter Andre, is an English-born Australian musician, singer-songwriter, television personality and businessman. As a recording artist, he has achieving four top 10 UK albums and ten top 10 singles.-Early life:Andre was born at Northwick Park...
, Phil Tufnell
Phil Tufnell
Philip Clive Roderick Tufnell is a former English cricketer turned television personality. A slow left-arm orthodox spin bowler, "Tuffers" as he was known played 42 Tests and 20 One Day International matches for England, as well as playing for Middlesex from 1986 to 2002...
and Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
.
His experience in the film industry has greatly influenced his sculpture practice. The materials and techniques he has adopted from film McCartney uses in his current assemblage-style work, combining such things as animal hides, taxidermy
Taxidermy
Taxidermy is the act of mounting or reproducing dead animals for display or for other sources of study. Taxidermy can be done on all vertebrate species of animals, including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians...
, human teeth with sculpted and cast body parts. His interest in the human body has led to some of his more unusual work such as Actaeon, a man's torso cast in deer hide and The Impossibility of Passion, the beginnings of his move into what he calls Neo-Surrealism.
Other works include After, a cast taken from his dead father, Car-bon Miles a pedal-powered vehicle and the soon to be launched Great Wall of Vagina,.
His series of works, entitled Sexidermy, involve taxidermied animals reworked with bizarre sexual overtones with titles such as Armadildo and Pussy Cat. There is also his Objet d'Aft series of which Shuttlecocks is a typical example. In addition he is frequently commissioned to create one-off designs of furniture etc. for business and private clients.
McCartney also creates more conceptual pieces. His Messages in Bottles relied on chance and the collaboration of strangers to bring to fruition. His experimental "Sculptography" collaboration with photographer, Miss Aniela, is a further example of his experimental work, as is his "Scanography" series.
Public artworks
- Farm Animals - EghamEghamEgham is a wealthy suburb in the Runnymede borough of Surrey, in the south-east of England. It is part of the London commuter belt and Greater London Urban Area, and about south-west of central London on the River Thames and near junction 13 of the M25 motorway.-Demographics:Egham town has a...
, UK, 1999. - Car-bon-miles, in the UK's first Art Car Parade, Manchester 2007
Awards
- Erotic Signature Sculpture prize winner 2007 (The Spice of Life)
- Erotic Signature Sculpture runner up 2008 (The Impossibility of Passion)
- Kyoto Award, UK Art Car Parade 2007 (Car-bon Miles)
- Sussex Business Awards - Creative Industries 2009
External links
TV/Radio
Press