Walter Ritchie Art for Sale at Auction

b. 1919 - d. 1997

Walter Ritchie was introduced to sculpture while studying at Coventry School of Art by Victor Candey, the then Vice-Principle, and the medium became a life-long passion for the Artist. Initially creating works which were modelled and cast, he went on to discover direct carving, which became his favoured technique. Taught the basic elements by local masons, he then went on to Hornton Quarries in North Oxfordshire to continue his training. First visiting the Pigotts workshop of Eric Gill in Buckinghamshire age 18, Ritchie went on to become one of Gill's pupils from 1938-9. During his time with Gill, Ritchie also met Donald Potter, a former assistant of Gill's who had his own sculpture workshop nearby and who taught Ritchie much about the techniques of carving wood. Alongside working in these traditional materials, Ritchie went on to undertake a number of public commissions – the most famous of these being a sculpture of Len Hutton at the Oval cricket ground – a great many of which were sculpted in brick, allowing him to realise his vision of the art work and building being as one.