Denis Alva Parsons

Denis Alva Parsons, MBE, ARBS (14 November 1934 – 4 April 2012), was an English sculptor and carver in wood and stone, working in the tradition of "direct carving" technique and figurative bronzes.

Career

Parsons was a sculptor, one of the last traditionally schooled craftsmen in a long British carving tradition. He was accomplished in "direct carving" – cutting figures out of a block of stone or wood. This was seen as a primary test of the artist's abilities in releasing the figures "hidden" in the inert materials.

Born near Polesworth, Warwickshire, Parsons spent his whole working career in the Midlands. In the 1950s, he served a seven-year apprenticeship with Robert Bridgeman and Sons, Lichfield, later to become Linford Bridgeman a company concentrating on architectural and ecclesiastical carving and sculpture. At the time, the company employed a substantial team of carvers, each with a specialist skill in figurative sculpture, foliage carving and letter cutting. From each craftsman, Parsons was fortunate to acquire traditional skills that had been developed and handed down over many generations. Later he became the company's head sculptor before setting up his own studio near Lichfield.

In a career lasting over fifty years, Denis Parsons established a reputation in the field of wood and stone carving, both figurative and architectural. A range of his figurative work can be found in locations worldwide. St Joseph's R.C. Church at Darlaston, Wednesbury, West Midlands, features four of his figures. The Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum in Lichfield, Staffordshire, exhibits a figure of Dr Johnson in the round created by Parsons. St Ambrose R.C. Church, Kidderminster displays Parsons' interpretation of St Ambrose in lime wood. The crypt chapel at St Marylebone Parish Church in London, contains a crucifix by Parsons. His work is to be found in many of the great buildings across the UK – including St Paul's Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey where Parsons was responsible for the restoration/replacement of eight large figures and decorative stonework on the north transept. He worked on major conservation projects for the National Trust including Little Moreton Hall, which is featured in The Building Conservation Directory of 1994.

Parsons demonstrated carving on behalf of The Royal Fine Art Commission (now known as the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) at the Royal Academy in July 1989 in the presence of Princess Margaret and an exhibition titled "On the Side of the Angels" at the commission's head office in St James's Square, London, in March 1992 in the presence of The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh representing Linford Bridgeman, Lichfield.

In 1992, he was elected an Associate of the Royal British Society of Sculptors, as member 161.

In 1993, he was awarded the MBE in recognition of his services to conservation. In 2013, The Denis Parsons Foundation was created under the auspices of The City of Lichfield Worshipful Company of Smiths to provide funds to assist local apprentices in practical skills. A tribute to Parsons was published in the Lichfield Gazette in June 2013 and again shortly afterwards when they featured the establishment of the Denis Parsons Foundation.

Parsons contributed an article to Practical Woodworking magazine in 1992. Parsons has been featured in many publications, including Public Sculpture of Staffordshire and the Black Country. Parsons talks to Marion Hancock about his career in The Architects' Journal. Parsons is featured in Country Life Magazine, where he was referred to as "one of the country's most expert architectural sculptors".

Gallery

Selected works Date Work Material Location 1955c. St Michael the Archangel Oak Unknown 1960c. Canon Jenkins Workshop Stone Lichfield Cathedral, North West tower 1960c. Coat of Arms – Pope John XXIII Portland Stone Unknown 1960c. Wheatsheaf Clipsham Stone NFU, Stratford-upon-Avon 1960c. Jean-Baptiste-Marie Chapaghat Bay Wood Ontario, Canada 1965c. Crucifix Teak Coventry 1965c. Christ in Glory Lime Wood Unknown 1965c. St Nicholas of Myra, Turkey Mahogany St Nicholas C of E Church, Droitwich 1965c. St Chad Honduras Mahogany Unknown 1967c. Madonna and Child Material unknown Unknown 1969c. St Leonard Hollington Stone Unknown 1969 Blue Coat Boy Portland Stone Blue Coat School, Walsall 1971 Rondel, Our Lady and St Peter Work in progress Cotswod Stone Prinknash Abbey, Cranham, Gloucester 1972 The Good Shepherd Lime Wood St Joseph's RC College, Stoke-on-Trent 1973 Sir Thomas More in workshop On site Close up Mahogany Thomas Moor RC School, Willenhall, Walsall 1973 Venerable Francis Leveson Rear view Close up Mahogany Thomas Moor RC School, Willenhall, Walsall 1973 St Nicholas Owen Work in progress Lime Wood St Joseph's RC Church, Darlaston, Wednesbury 1973c. The 'Blessed' John Henry Cardinal Newman Portland Stone Unknown 1974 Yoga Figure Resin Sculptors Collection 1975 Processional Cross Oak/Gilded Christ Church Cathedral, Stanley, Falkland Islands 1976 St Catherine of Alexandria Clipsham Stone Church of St Mary the Virgin, Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire 1978 St Thomas Becket Clipsham Stone Church of St Mary the Virgin, Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire 1978 Archangel Raphael & Archangel Uriel Raphael being worked Uriel being worked Uriel completed Portland Stone North transept, Westminster Abbey 1978 Henry V & Catherine of Valois Carving Demonstration Catherine of Valois completed Portland Stone North transept, Westminster Abbey 1978 Triple Shell Fountain Workshop Close up Side Shells Portland Stone Abbots Ripton Hall, Huntingdonshire 1978 St Joseph and Child Christ Church York stone St Joseph's RC Church, Darlaston, West Midlands 1984 Talbot Hound Grinsill stone Alton Towers, Staffordshire 1985 Royal Achievement Coat of Arms Pawsons York Stone County Court Buildings, Burton-on-Trent 1985 Crucifix Wood, Decorated and Gilded St Agatha's Church, Llanymynech, Oswestry 1986 Crucifix In Workshop Ash Crypt Chapel, St Marylebone Parish Church, London 1986 Heraldic Symbols: Staff of Life – Lancaster Rose Guiting Stone Houses of Parliament, Riverside exterior 1986 Heraldic Symbols Guiting Stone Houses of Parliament, Riverside exterior 1989 Archangel Gabriel Clipsham Stone St Gabriels Church, Walsall 1990 Commemorative Tablet Work in progress Welsh Blue Slate St Osburg's RC Church, Coventry 1990 Dr Samuel Johnson Work in Progress Work in Progress RA Demonstration Completed figure front Completed figure rear Burmese Teak The Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum, Lichfield 1991 Little Moreton Hall South elevation Original post Carving in workshop Carving in situ English Green Oak Little Moreton Hall, Cheshire 1991 Amphitrite Rear view Close up Blocking in 1 Blocking in 2 Finishing Lime wood Sculptors Private Collection 1992 Sir Edwin Lutyens Blocking in 1 Blocking in 2 Carving Demonstration Bleached Brazilian mahogany Private Collection 1992 St Dunstan Lime wood St Dunstans RC Church, Kings Heath, Birmingham 1993 Pope St Gregory the Great Lime wood St Gregory's RC Church, Stoke-on-Trent 1993 Trophy boxes Trophy Box Working drawing Grand Cross Star Centre panel Crown Grand Cross Star in situ Oak Order of the British Empire Chapel, St Paul's Cathedral, London 1994 Sir William Dugdale, 2nd Baronet In situ Profile Clay maquette Bronze Merevale Hall, Warwickshire 1994 Dean John Lang & Francis Lang Work in progress Stone Lichfield Cathedral 1995 St Ambrose Working drawing Rear view Lime Wood St Ambrose RC Church, Kidderminster 1996 Salacia – Queen of the Ocean In workshop Lime Wood Private Collection 1998 Erasmus Darwin relief Incised Paving Slabs Stone Erasmus Darwin House, Lichfield 1998 St Kenelm Working Drawing In Workshop Lime Wood Our Lady and St Kenelm RC Church, Halesowen, West Midlands 1998 A pair of white lions In workshop In situ Cedar White Lion Hotel, Banbury 1998 St Mary and Child Christ Work in progress Dedication Lime Wood St Mary's Hospital Chapel, London 1999 St Kenelm Working Drawing School visit Lime Wood Our Lady and St Kenelm RC School, Halesowen, West Midlands 2002 Denis Parsons self-portrait Side view Lime wood Sculptors collection 2003 Augustus Pugin Portrait Bust Side View Base Maquette Japanese Oak Private collection 2004 Blessed Virgin Mary and Child Christ 1, 2, 3 Bronze Church of Our Lady, Merevale, Warwickshire