Tessa Pullan

Sculptor

Tessa Pullan

Tessa Pullan was apprenticed to John Skeaping RA for three years and continued her studies with the City and Guilds of London Art School Diploma Course and a further three years as a postgraduate at the Royal Academy of Arts. She is now one of Britain's leading animal sculptors, working in a variety of media, but mainly bronze and wood.

Tessa Pullan's interpretations of animal life have a directness and honesty which mirror the alert, vital and spontaneous quality of the animals themselves. Whether untamed or domestic, whether depicted in repose or moving with grace, there is something about these enormously attractive forms which rivets the eye and warms the heart. Paul Mellon

Tessa has exhibited at numerous galleries since 1976, including the Guildhall and the Royal Academy

Employment & Education


1971-1974	Three year apprenticeship with Professor John Skeaping R.A
1974-1977	Three year Diploma course: City & Guilds of London Art school.
1977-1980	Three years at the Royal Academy of Arts- Postgraduate studies.
1980-1982	Working in own studio in Sandwich, Kent.
1982-1985	Working in own studio in Aberystwyth, Wales.
1985-1990	Working in own studio in Berkhamsted, Herts.
1990-Present	Working in own studio in Barrowden, Rutland.

EXHIBITIONS


1976	Guildhall, London.
1978	Royal Academy, Diploma Galleries.
1979	Royal Academy, Summer Exhibition.
	Royal Academy, Diploma Galleries.
1980	Royal Academy, Diploma Galleries.
1982	Royal Academy, Summer Exhibition.
	Cork Street Fine Arts.
1983	Cork Street Fine Arts.
1983-1991	Messrs. Ackermann, Bond Street, London and Madison Avenue, New York.
1984	Royal Academy, Summer Exhibition.
	Bath Contempory Arts Festival.
	Quinton Green Fine Arts, Cork Street, London.
1985	'Women Working in Wales' travelling exhibition.
	'Where wild Beast Roam', Gallery 24.
	One-Woman show at Quinton Green Fine Arts. Cork Street, London.
1986	'Wild Lives' group exhibition at Parnham House, Dorset.
	Worcester Arts Festival.
	Society of Equestrian Artists, Mall Galleries.
1987	Royal Academy, Summer Exhibition.
	Society of Equestrian Artists, Mall Galleries.
1988	Royal Academy, Summer Exhibition.
	'A View From The Saddle', Ackermann's, Bond street.
	The Cleveland Bridge Gallery, Bath.
1989	Society of Equestrian Artists, The Westminster Gallery.
1990	The Cleveland Bridge Gallery, Bath.
1991	Studio Exhibition with Victoria Goodman.
	Society of Equestrian Artists, Christies.
	One-woman show, John Hunt Gallery, Sussex.
1992	Tryon and Moorland Gallery, Cork Street, London.
	1992-2001 The Old House Gallery, Oakham, Rutland.
	John Hunt Gallery, Sussex.
	Society of Equestrian Artists, Christies.
1993	Art 93- The London Contempory Art Fair.
	The Bruton Street Gallery, London.
	The Society of Wildlife Artists, Mall Galleries, London.
	Society of Equestrian Artists, Christies, London.
	Joint Exhibition with John Skeaping R.A. Coughton Gallery, Market Harborough.
	In the Mind's Eye' , Mall Galleries, London.
	1993-2001 Gallerie Les Hirondelles, Geneva.
	Dyslexia Institute Awareness Week, Welcome Foundation, London.
	Travelling exhibition, Germany.
1994	Society of Equestrian Artists, Carisbrook Gallery. London.
	The Bruton Street Gallery, London.
1995	The Royal Academy, Summer Exhibition.
	Roadworks III, Bilston, Wolverhampton.
	John Hunt, Redchurch Galleries. Shoreditch,London.
1996	Art 96, The London Contempory Art Fair, The Business Design Centre,London.
	'Ladies First', Redchurch Galleries, London.
	Chelsea Art Fair
	One-woman show, Redchurch Galleries, London.
	The Royal Academy, Summer Exhibition.
	Coggeshall Arts & Craft Festival.
	Welland Valley, Stamford Art Center.
1997	Art 97, The London Contempory Art Fair.
	Chelsea Art Fair.
	Chelsea Harbour Exhibition.
	Society of Equestrian Artists, Christies.
1998	Arts Dyslexia Trust, Christies, London.
	Welland Valley, Stamford Art Center.
	The thrill of the chase, The Air Gallery, London.
	Peterborough Arthouse.
	One-woman show, Yarrow Galery, Oundle.
1999	Society Equestrian Artists, Christies.
	1999-2002 Frank T Sabin, Albemarle Street. London.
	Society of Equestrian Artists, Newmarket.
2000	Society of Equetrian Artists, Christies
	Nyad 2000 New York
2001	Newby Hall Sculpture Park 2001-2002
2002	Sculpture under English Skies Frank T Sabin
	Sculpture in the Garden University of Leicester Harold Martin Botanic Garden
	"Animals of the African Savanna" one woman show Frank T Sabin
2004	Autunm Exhibition The Gallery at Bulwick
2005	Galerie Etienne de Causans Paris
2006	Spring Exhibition Geedon Gallery
2006	Open Studio
2008	Open Studio
2009	Open Studio
2009-2011	The Affordable Art Fair London
2011	British Art Portfolio Noseley Hall
2013	The Hackwood Festival
2014	Knebworth - Open Air Sculpture by British Art Portfolio
2022	Open Studio

COMMISSIONS


1976	Bronze Pointer - John Allen Esq.
1977	Bronze Statue of a horse - Lloyds Bank, Cambridge.
1979	Portrait of 'Stilvi' and foal - G.L. Cambanis Esq.
1980	Portrait of 'Troy', 200th Derby winner - Willie Carson.
1981	Portrait of Denis Hill-Wood Esq, Chairman of Arsenal Football Club.
1983	Portrait of 'Glint of Gold' - Paul Mellon Esq.
	Silver Portrait of 'Christmas Goose' - Paul Mellon Esq.
1984	Bronze Portrait of Paul Mellon Esq.
1986	2/3 life-size portrait of 'Christmas Goose' - Paul Mellon Esq.
1987	Portrait of Bishop Henry Wilson - Colin St John Wilson.
1988	Portrait of 'Forest Flower' - Paul Mellon Esq.
1989	Portrait of 'Soviet Star' - Sheik Mohammed.
	Bronze heraldic Falcon and Lion for Hambros Bank.
	Portrait of Mark Davies on 'Normous' - Mr & Mrs J. Davies.
1992	Portrait of John Baskett - Paul Mellon Esq.
	Lion and Frog fountain - Stefa Hart.
1994	3/4 life-size portrait of 'Sea Hero' , 1993 Kentucky Derby winner - Paul Mellon.
1995	Portrait of John Macdonald-Buchanan.
	Maquette for Mounted Figure, Black Country Route, Bilston.
1996	3/4 life-size Memorial to the horses killed in the American Civil War-Paul Mellon.
	Half life-size Mounted figure for Bilston.
	Life-size wooden tiger- Tig-RE, L.U.C. London.
1997	One and a half life-size Mounted Figure for Bilsdon.
	Life size Civil War Horse - Paul Mellon.
1998	Portrait of Bracken - Wendy Pullan.
1999	Life-size stag - Bob Wheatley.
2000	Life-size wooden "Odysseus" - Odyssey (America) RE.
2001	Life-size Hind - Mrs D.C.D. Johnson.
	Portrait of Abbey - Mr & Mrs G Knight
2003	Greatdane - Sandra Rees
2004	Hanna - Jill Nelson
	Nanette Godfrey Memorial - Tudor Hall School
	Dancer - Bill Pickering
2006	Remy - Christopher and Mary Elson
	Rosie & Basil - Elaine Farrall
2007	Muffie Fiona Ruddle
2008	Tiger - Deborah Gregson
	Debs - Tim Gregson
2009	Libby - Richard Davies
	Wilson & Dewis - Paula Brooks
2011	Portrait of Simon Pattinson
2012	Sherpa - Wendy Pullan
2013	Cheetah Family II - Azhar Faroogi
2014	Without Words - Annelies van Vianen
2016	Portrait of Cocoa - Peter Pemberton
2017	Portrait of Brigand - Kathryn McCullagh
2018	Portrait of Tolly - Mime Matthews
2019	Portrait of Trufa - Belle Reed
2023	Sitting Cheetah - John & Jessica Mills

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

The National Portrait Gallery, London.
National Horseracing Museum, Newmarket.
Yale Center for British Art, New Haven, Connecticut.
The Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art, London.
The Centre for Hellenic Studies, Washington, D.C.
Clare College (Forbes -Mellon Library), Cambridge.
Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, Connecticut.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, Virginia.
Virginian Historical Society.
Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
New Hall Cambridge
Melton Carnegie Museum, Melton Mowbray