About
Rufus Martin SPS is an award-winning British sculptor working in clay, bronze, and marble. Raised in Dorset by artistic parents, he was introduced early to portraiture through his mother, a portrait artist, and inspired by figures such as Augusta Savage, Jacob Epstein, and Rodin. Largely self-taught, he developed his practice surrounded by portraiture and a deep interest in people as individuals.
He studied Set Design for Screen at Wimbledon College of Arts, London, graduating with First Class Honours. Martin’s sculpture combines measured observation with expressive, tactile surfaces, aiming to capture likeness as well as the emotional landscape of his subjects. He is a member of the Society of Portrait Sculptors.
His work has been recognised with the Signature Art Prize, the Tiranti Prize (twice), the Morris Singer Award, and a Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust grant to study marble carving in Florence.
Martin has exhibited with Bowman Sculpture, the Society of Portrait Sculptors: The Face22, 23 and 24, and the Salmagundi Club in New York, the RBA Rising Stars show and the Chelsea Arts Club. Recent work includes a series inspired by epic poetry, particularly Milton’s Paradise Lost, exploring universal human themes through contemporary figurative sculpture.
You can get in touch with him below:
Dorset • London
Photo by Catherine Falls
Curriculum Vitae
Profile
Rufus is an award-winning portrait sculptor. Member of the Society of Portrait Sculptors and recipient of Queen Elizabeth Trust grant funding. His work has been on show in many galleries and exhibitions, notably Bowman Sculpture of St James Park, the RBA Rising Stars show, The Face22, 23, 24 and 25 and the Chelsea Arts Club.
Notable works, Awards and exhibitions
2024 - Queen Elizabeth Trust Funding granted.
2024 - Winner of the Morris Singer Foundry Prize at the FACE24
2023 - Winner of the Tiranti Prize at the FACE2023
2023 - Winner of the Royal Bath & West Sculpture Prize
2022 - Winner of the Tiranti Prize at the FACE2022
2021 - Winner of the Signature Art Award.
2025 - Frozen Forms with Bowman Sculpture
2025 - Treasure House with Bowman Sculpture
2025 - FACE25 show
2024 - Graduate show with Bowman Sculpture
2024 - Churchill sale Sotheby’s
2024 - FACE2024 Show
2023 - FACE2023 Show
2023 - Royal Bath & West
2023 - Chelsea Arts Club show of ‘Amy’
2023 - True Blue Show
2023 - Shortlisted for the RBA Rising Stars Show
2022 - Salmagundi Open Show, New York
2022 - Green & Stone Summer Show
2022 - Chelsea Arts Society Summer Show
2022 - Shortlisted for the Beautiful Bazaar Magazine Prize
2022 - Shortlisted for FACE2022 Portrait Sculpture Award and Show
2022 - Tebbs International Art Award Shortlist
2022 - Shortlisted for the RBA Show
2022 - RBA Rising Stars
2021 - Shortlisted for the Rome Scholarship
2021 - Royal Cambrian Academy Open
2021 - Joint Show - Binny Mathews & Sons.
2021 - Signature Art Award.
2021 - The Next Big Thing.
2021 - Green & Stone Summer Show
2020 - Shortlisted for a QEST Scholarship
2020 - Ashurst Emerging artist.
Chelsea Arts Club
2020-2021 - Binny Mathews & Sons
2020 - Published in Art Hole Mag
2020 - Shortlisted for the ACS Studio Prize
2020 - Featured Artist for the Tebbs Gallery
2020 - Published - Kings House Art Magazine