Viv Astling

Current Work & Exhibitions

2024 Exhibitions

In 2024 I showed my sculpture at the Mall Gallery, London in the Royal Society of British Artists (RBA) Annual Exhibition. Broadway Festival Art Competition selected my work for their September Exhibition. I showed at Patchings Gallery Nottinghamshire with Birmingham Art Circle and had work in both the RBSA’s Summer Show and Members Annual Exhibition at the RBSA Gallery.

Holst: The Planets, Portland Limestone, 52cmsx9x16 on a slate base.

The Planets suite has 7 movements: each could be represented figuratively or by a planet. I have chosen to do that only with the face of Jupiter, Bringer of Jollity, with oak leaves and Uranus, the Magician, showing the 13 rings that surround the planet. Mars, Bringer of War, is represented by a WW1 tank track, Venus, Bringer of Peace, by the first four notes of the movement played on the solo Horn and Mercury, the Messenger, by its winged form. For Saturn, Bringer of Old Age, I have merged its astrological symbol with a mythical trombone - brass were Holst's favourite instruments - with an impossible three bells. Neptune, the Mystic, is represented by tridents: like the music it fades away into the form on the reverse side.

Encore, Derbyshire Limestone, 29cmsx15x12 - SOLD

Figuration, Portland Limestone, 19cmsx17x16 on a wood base.

Pick the low hanging fruit, Portland Limestone, 17cmsx19x16 on a wood Base.

2023 Exhibitions
In 2023 my Exhibition programme was curtailed due to various reasons. But I did show at the Royal Society of British Artists (RBA) in the Mall Gallery in March, Birmingham Art Circle in October and at the RBSA Annual Exhibition in November.

Remembering Coronation Gardens Dudley, Portland Limestone on a Derbyshire Limestone base, 66 cmsx19x12.
SOLD

Beethoven 5: Fate Knocks, Limestone Relief, 32cmsx28x5.

This Relief is part of a series of sculptures based on
well known works of classical music.

2022 Exhibitions
I showed work in the RBSA Members and Associates Exhibition in November and had a work selected for their Prize Exhibition. Group shows included showing with Birmingham Art Circle, Gallery 12 and in the Sculpture Garden at the Purple Gallery in Bournville.

Squeeze Me, Recycled Limestone from Leicester Police Station and mirror screws, 27cmsx19x35 SOLD

Playing Second Fiddle, is Distressed limestone and copper sheet, 69cmsx29x9. SOLD

2021 Exhibitions
I was selected and exhibited Natural Polyphony at the Ikon Gallery, Birmingham in May. In September I was invited to join as a Member of Gallery 12 for their annual exhibition at Woodbridge Gallery. In November I exhibited at the Annual RBSA Members exhibition at the RBSA Gallery as well the Purple Gallery in Bournville.

Theme and Variations, Limestone on Slate, 45cmx16x10. SOLD

Align, Limestone on Kirkstone Slate
with Found Pebble, 30cmx24x8.

Blow Me!, Recarved Limestone from Leicester Police Station
with Copper Leaf Gilding, 34cmx26x19
SOLD

Equilibrium, Limestone on a Slate Block, 49cmx15x13
SOLD

Sculpture and Music 2020

Showing at the RBSA Gallery immediately after the first lockdown, an Exhibition themed on Music and Sculpture. It included Sense of Sound, Goldberg Variations and a new work, Mahler 1. This double-sided relief is in the Narrative Sculpture series and and tries to re-imagine the Symphony in stone. The first movement has a large influence on the sculptural design as Mahler represents the re-awakening of Spring in orchestral sound.

Mahler 1, Portland Limestone on Welsh Slate, 82cmsx48x5.
SOLD

Mahler 1, Portland Limestone on Welsh Slate, 82cmsx48x5.
SOLD

2019 Exhibitions

I was part of the Sculptura Exhibition with 7 other sculptors in the Autumn. This is the first group sculpture exhibition at the RBSA Gallery probably since 1945. It was opened by Johannes von Stumm, past President of the Royal Society of Sculptors. See images of work shown below.

Work was also shown at Himley Hall as part of the Birmingham Art Circle's Group Exhibition, selected for the RBSA Prize Exhibition, in the Members and Associates Exhibition and in the joint Shapeshifters/BAC exhibition.

Kanagawa (detail), Italian Marble on Slate Base SOLD

Conundrum, Limestone on Derbyshire Fossil Base (NFS)

Two Circles and a Square, Granite, Marble and Slate (all found)

On the Way Up, Hoptonwood Marble on a found pebble SOLD

Trussed Up, Kilkenny Limestone

Blue Bounty, Ancaster Weatherbed on Polyphant Base SOLD

Wave Trio, English Alabaster SOLD

Geriatric Pebble, Found Pebble on Slate Base

Sturgeon Moon, Found Pebble on Found Marble Base SOLD

2018 Exhibitions
I exhibited during 2018 at the Showborough House Sculpture Garden in Gloucestershire, at the National Trust’s Hanbury Hall, Worcestershire as part of Birmingham Art Circle’s exhibition and as part of Surrey Sculpture Society’s exhibition at the prestigious Savill Gardens, Berkshire. My work was accepted in the Broadway Arts Festival Open exhibition where my sculpture was Highly Commended and in the Lichfield Festival Open held in Lichfield Cathedral.

I participated in the Sutton Coldfield Art Trail opening our garden and studio space for a weekend in June. My final show of the year was the Annual RBSA Members and Associates Exhibition at the RBSA Gallery in November.

Daughters, Devolution and Dynasty, Portland Limestone with gold pigment and a Kirkstone Slate base SOLD

Daughters, Devolution and Dynasty, Portland Limestone with gold pigment and a Kirkstone Slate base SOLD

Natural Polyphony,
Portland Limestone.
SOLD

Natural Polyphony, Portland Limestone.
SOLD

Natural Polyphony, Portland Limestone.
SOLD

Natural Polyphony, Portland Limestone.
SOLD

2017 Exhibitions

During 2017 I exhibited at the Fosse House Gallery, Warwickshire, in a group show at the Granary Gallery, Weston Park, Staffordshire and at Hanbury Hall, Worcestershire with the Birmingham Art Circle. We were part of the Sutton Coldfield Art Trail for one weekend in June using the house, studio and garden. During the year at the RBSA Gallery in Birmingham I showed in the Metropolis Exhibition, the joint Art Circle/Shapeshifters Exhibition as well as the Members and Associates Annual Exhibition. I was one of the 8 RBSA Members who participated in the Equivalent 8 Exhibition which ran alongside the William Gear Heritage Exhibition. Five Artists and three sculptors made 8 abstract works for the Exhibition.

Green Metropolis, Purbeck Freestone.
SOLD

Hokusai at Portland, Portland Limestone.

Hokusai at Hoptonwood, Hoptonwood Marble on Derbyshire Fossil Limestone.
SOLD

Equivalent 8 Exhibition

Good Vibrations, Hoptonwood Marble
(In Private Collection).

Sense of Sound, Purbeck Limestone.
SOLD

Dipteros, Portland Limestone on Granite.
SOLD

Goldberg Variations, Portland Limestone on Granite.SOLD

Seashore, Portland Limestone.
Not For Sale

Food for Thought, Portland Limestone on Sandstone. SOLD

Notations, English Alabaster on Bradwell Black Limestone (NFS).

Tripos, Portland Limestone on Granite.
SOLD

2016 Exhibitions
During 2016 I exhibited sculpture at a number of galleries including the RBSA Gallery, Birmingham (the Prize, Members and Associates and the New Curators Sculpture Exhibitions), the Granary Gallery, Weston Park, Shropshire, the Jinney Ring Sculpture Trail, Worcestershire, the Sutton Coldfield Art Trail, Dudley Art Gallery and Lichfield Garrick Theatre.

Cut-out, Portland Limestone. SOLD

Turning Point, Portland Limestone on Slate SOLD

Capability Brown: Bridge, Lakes and Ha-Ha, Re-used Portland Limestone on Re-used Cedar Base

Stones@Home in the Garden – Exhibition at the RBSA Gallery,
Monday 24 August to Saturday 5 September 2015.

The Exhibition was designed to show Sculpture in the Garden by transforming the gallery with hundreds of flowers and plants. Features reflecting the garden pond, the vegetable plot and the Conservatory showed how sculpture complements and adds interest to the garden. Here are images of the larger new works exhibited:

Ariel, Hoptonwood Marble on Slate SOLD

Vulcan, Hoptonwood Marble on Slate

(In Personal Collection).

Autumn Abundance, Ancaster Hard White

First Sign of Spring, Ancaster Hard White SOLD

Summertime, Ancaster Hard White SOLD

Aurora, Alabaster on Slate SOLD

Sea Symphony 2, Bronze

River Line, Red Travertine on Portland Limestone SOLD

Art Deco Wave, Reused Portland Limestone SOLD

Kanagawa Fossil Wave, Reused Portland Limestone SOLD

Glory of the Garden, Portland Limestone on Slate SOLD

Moon Distortions, Pond Freestone on Slate SOLD

Serpentine, Portland Limestone on Slate SOLD

One Direction, Ancaster Hard White on Slate

Wavelet, Pond Freestone on Slate SOLD

Exhibitions

During the last six years Viv has exhibited regularly at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists in their Members and Associates, Open and Prize Exhibitions. Work has also been selected for the Birmingham Open (2010), at Martins Gallery Cheltenham (2010), the Derby Open (2009 & 2011) and Hidcote Manor Garden (2012). In 2013 his sculpture Kanagawa Wave was Highly Commended in the Granary Gallery Open at Weston Park, Shropshire. The Mayne Gallery, Kingsbridge, Devon and the Little London Gallery, Derbyshire showed his work in 2013.

Birmingham Today 6 February to 1 March 2014 at the RBSA Gallery
These are images of work in this exhibition.

Building Icons
Library and Symphony Hall

Re-used Portland Limestone
Building Icons
Selfridges and refurbished New Street Station
Re-used Portland Limestone
Building Icons
Listed Signal Box at New Street Station
Re-used Portland Limestone

Spaghetti Junction – a birds eye view,
Hoptonwood on a charred wood base.
SOLD
Spaghetti Junction – a birds eye view,
Hoptonwood on a charred wood base.
SOLD
Hip Relief – a brummie solution
Based on the Birmingham Hip
Brazilian Soapstone on Slate.
SOLD

Touching The Stone RBSA Cafe Space 12 August to 5 October 2013 For Touching the Stone visitors were invited to experience the tactile nature of both the stone and texture of the hand-sized sculptures.

Bolt to the Blue, Hoptonwood on Slate
SOLD
Dappled Grey, Soapstone
SOLD Earth, Sea and Sky, Alabaster on Slate SOLD

Enigma Variations, Hoptonwood (obverse) SOLD Enigma Variations, Hoptonwood (reverse) SOLD Going for Gold, Ancaster Weatherbed
SOLD

Coastscape, Soapstone Pitch and Toss, Lincoln Silverbed on Slate SOLD Building with Nature, re-used Portland Limestone. SOLD

Convolutions, Portuguese Limestone, SOLD Dorsaling, Soapstone, SOLD Blade, Buff Sandstone

Unfolding, Hoptonwood SOLD Fusion, Hoptonwood, SOLD Conundrum, re-used Portland Limestone SOLD

Wave Sculptures
Three further examples of Wave Sculptures

Kanagawa Wave, Hoptonwood SOLD
Seven Ages Wave, Hoptonwood
(In Personal Collection).
Rhythm of the Sea, Hoptonwood SOLD

2012 RBSA Candidates Exhibition. Six works based on the theme of the Wave.

Crest of the Wave, Ancaster Weatherbed. Diploma Work now in RBSA Permanent Collection.
Whirlpool, Caen Stone on Slate
Not For Sale
White Horses, Lincoln Silverbed on Slate. SOLD

Surfers’ Dream, Polyphant SOLD
The Translucent Wave, English Alabaster on Oak SOLD
Crosscurrents, Hoptonwood on Slate. SOLD

Group Exhibition with the Shapeshifters at the Art Barn 3-18 September 2011. Examples of work shown....

Flight of Fancy, Limestone on slate base. SOLD
Suspended Sycamore, Hoptonwood on a slate base. SOLD

Sea-Change, Alabaster. SOLD

Solo Show Café Space 2011 This show comprised 15 works including...

Odysseus' Journey, Ancaster Hard White, 43x28x14cms. SOLD
Daphne's Dilemma, Ancaster Hard White, 34x23x12cms.
Not For Sale

RBSA Members and Associates Autumn Exhibition - November 2010

These two works were included in the show.....

White Sails:Calm Sea, Hoptonwood on a Kirkstone Slate base, 26x24x24. SOLD
The Listening Seed, Hoptonwood on a Slate base, 41x31x27cms. SOLD

   RBSA Candidates Exhibition April 2010

General View of 6 submitted works
Sea Form, Alabaster, 25cmsx14x8.
Not For Sale
Shoots, Leaves but No Eats, Ancaster Hard White, 33cmsx24x24 SOLD

Cornish Wave, Hoptonwood on a Granite base 38cmsx 31x10 (In personal Collection).
Cornish Wave, Hoptonwood on a Granite base 38cmsx 31x10 (In personal Collection).
Cactus Form, Hoptonwood on a slate base 68cmsx15x13 SOLD

Cactus Form, Hoptonwood on a slate base 68cmsx15x13 SOLD
Cactus Form, Hoptonwood on a slate base 68cmsx15x13 SOLD

Shaping Nature

View all the works in the SHAPING NATURE Exhibition held in June/July 2009. 30 of the 35 works were sold.

Cactus (Astrophytum), Portland Limestone, 31X31X24cms. SOLD

Eucomis Seed, Portland Limestone, 28X25X24cms. SOLD

Shoots, Leaves But No Eats, Ancaster Hard White, 33X24X24cms. (Selected to be shown at the Derby Open Exhibition 2009). SOLD

Shoots, Leaves But No Eats, Ancaster Hard White, 33X24X24cms. SOLD

Shoots, Leaves But No Eats, Ancaster Hard White, 33X24X24cms. SOLD

Nature’s Eye, Portland Limestone, 25X18X9cms. SOLD

Thorn, Hoptonwood, 22X19X8cms. SOLD

Lost Seed, AncasterWeatherbed, 22X12X8cms. SOLD

Lost Seed, Ancaster Weatherbed, 22X21X8cms. SOLD

Banded Shell, Ancaster Pink Limestone, 23X15X15cms. SOLD

Banded Shell, Ancaster Pink Limestone, 23X15X15cms. SOLD

Nut Brown, Brown Hornton Stone, 20X10X10cms.

Nature’s Mystery, Hoptonwood, 31X27X21cms. SOLD

Nature’s Mystery, Hoptonwood, 31X27X21cms. SOLD

White Pepper, Red Shadow - Bath Stone on a red Travertine base. 18X15X9cms. SOLD

Passing Cloud, White Alabaster,20X14X14cms. SOLD

Summer’s Decline, Hoptonwood, 84X17X8cms. SOLD

Summer’s Decline, Hoptonwood, 84X17X8cms. SOLD

Organic Trio, Ancaster Hard White, 23X11X8cms. SOLD

David and Victoria, Portland Limestone, 51X40X10cms. SOLD

Coreopsis Relief, Ancaster Weatherbed, 33X33X8cms. SOLD

Taj Mahal Relief, Hoptonwood, 36X30X4cms. SOLD

Blue Bounty, Polyphant,15x14x10cms. SOLD

Blue Bounty, Polyphant, 15x14x10cms. SOLD

Beechnut, Polyphant, 15X12X6cms. SOLD

Curled Form, Polyphant, 20X10X9cms. In personal collection.

‘The Gherkin’, Polyphant, 16X8X8cms. SOLD

Lily 1, Polyphant, 10X10X9cms. SOLD

Lily 2, Polyphant, 17X11X8cms. SOLD

Lily 3, Polyphant, 20X11X7cms. SOLD

Beechnut Trio, Limestone, 12X12X8cms. SOLD

Curling, Portland Limestone, 14X8X7cms. SOLD

Clematis, Hoptonwood, 10X8X7cms. SOLD

Clematis, Hoptonwood, 10X8X7cms. SOLD

Sycamore Key, Hoptonwood, 19X7X2cms. In personal collection.

Seed Trio, Hoptonwood, 20X12X8cms. SOLD

Leaf Trio, Hoptonwood, 13X9X9cms. SOLD

Flowering Erica, Creeton Stone, 17x1x3cms. SOLD

Dappled Form, Soapstone on an Alabaster base. 18x15x9cms. SOLD

New Growth, Hoptonwood on a double slate base 47x13x7cms. SOLD

New Growth, Hoptonwood on a double slate base 47x13x7cms. SOLD

Double Ash, Hoptonwood on a slate base 69x18x8 cms. SOLD

Double Ash, Hoptonwood on a slate base 69x18x8 cms. SOLD

Blue Abundance, Kilkenny Limestone 28x13x11 cms. SOLD

Blue Abundance, Kilkenny Limestone 28x13x11 cms. SOLD

Acorns and Leaves, Hollington Red Sandstone 41x21x16cms.SOLD

Tree Burr, Brown Alabaster 17x10x10cms. SOLD

Sea Life, Amber Alabaster 25x14x8cms.

If you would like to purchase any sculpture or would like to discuss a commission of work, designed specifically for you, please email me at mail@vivastling.co.uk

Copyright © 2025 Viv Astling. All rights reserved.