Skeaping, John

Skeaping, John (1901–1980). British sculptor and draughtsman, born at South Woodford, Essex, the son of a painter. At the age of 13 he went to Blackheath School of Art, London, and subsequently studied at Goldsmiths' College, the Central School of Art and Design, and in 1919–20 the Royal Academy Schools. He won several awards and scholarships, including the Prix de Rome in 1924; Barbara Hepworth was runner-up. The couple married in Rome in 1925 and were divorced in 1933, by which time Hepworth was living with Ben Nicholson. During their marriage Skeaping was influenced by Hepworth's advocacy of direct carving, making works in which he tried to exploit the natural qualities of stone and wood: ‘Perhaps I was jealous of her admiration for Moore and felt that she didn't really think much of my work.’ In the 1930s, however, he reverted to a more traditional style and worked mainly as an animal (particularly horse) sculptor in bronze. He made numerous figures of famous racehorses, including several for Paul Mellon, well-known as an art collector as well as a horse breeder. In the Second World War Skeaping was an Official War Artist and also served in the SAS. In 1948 he began teaching at the Royal College of Art and was professor of sculpture there, 1953–9. He published several books, including Animal Drawing (1936), How to Draw Horses (1941), How to Draw Dogs (1961), and Drawn From Life: An Autobiography (1977).