Roy Noakes

Roy Noakes Student work

Photographs taken at City and Guilds Institute 1959-1962

1954/54 Apprenticed to Anselm Odling
1854/56 Apprenticed to Gerald Giudici
1956/1958 National Service in the Signals
1858/1961 full time student at City and Guilds Institute

Roy and James Butler carving "the Queen's Beasts"

Roy and James Butler

Roy Noakes and James Butler at work in Giudici’s yard in Sutton, London, carving the Queen’s Beasts in limestone from plaster models using a pointing machine. The original designs, by James Woodford RA, are now installed at Kew Gardens, London.

Roy and James Butler in the background behind a half-finished reclining clay figure in the ‘stone room’ at City and Guilds Institute.

Roy and James Butler in the stone room

Roy Noakes and James Butler are seen in the background behind a half-finished reclining clay figure in the ‘Stone Room’ at the City and Guilds Institute. The figure was later completed, cast in plaster, and acquired by Alan and Isabel Rawsthorne in 1965. Its current location is unknown.

Roy casting the seated male figure 1958/9.

Roy casting the seated male figure

1958/9

These early student works were created using traditional methods, with clay built over a wooden and lead-wire armature, and initially cast in plaster from a plaster waste mould.

Seated male figure

Seated male figure completed and coloured

150cm

There are no preliminary drawings for any of these early works, nor any indication of a title or direct reference to a life model. They are creations of pure imagination, designed to give the viewer a convincing sense of reality. Their statuesque presence evokes the grandeur and formality of Classical sculpture.

Reclining figure

Reclining figure

100cm
1959/60
Coloured plaster

Reclining figure in a field

Reclining figure in a field

A reclining figure in a field in Essex was featured on the front cover of David Holbrook’s anthology of World War I poetry.

Reclining figure

Reclining figure

125cm

The work may subtly echo images from National Geographic of the uncovered figures at Pompeii.

Reclining figure

Reclining figure

100cm

The sculpture is deliberately limbless and intended to be viewed while lying down.

Collection of figures cast in plaster

A collection of figures cast in plaster

A collection of figures cast in plaster, displayed for the Beckwith Scholarship competition. Roy Noakes was awarded the scholarship by the Fishmongers’ Livery Company.

Seated figure with arms stretched

Seated figure with arms stretched

150cm

On exhibition for the Beckwith Scholarship Competition

Reverse view of seated figure with outstretched arms

Reverse view of seated figure with outstretched arms

Reverse view of three female seated figures

Reverse view of three female seated figures

60cm
Plaster

There is minimal armature which allowed for a more expressive movement throughout the clay.

Three female seated figures

Three female seated figures

60cm
Plaster

There is minimal armature which allowed for a more expressive movement throughout the clay.

Crouching figure

Crouching figure

60cm
Cement Fondu

Executed in cement fondu, possibly as a subtle nod to Michelangelo.

Crouching figure sitting on grass, in front of a pink-painted brick wall.

Crouching figure

90cm
Limestone
Private Collection

Two figures

Two figures 

150cm
Plaster

Two figures exhibited for the Beckwith Scholarship competition, including a seated figure, 150 cm, in plaster. These imaginary figures were created without realistic features.

Seated figure mounted outside at night

Seated figure mounted outside at night

seated female figure

Seated female figure

60cm
Plaster

reclining figure

Reclining figure

140cm
Plaster
Private collection

Collection of figures on exhibition cast in plaster for the Beckwith Scholarship Competition

Collection of figures

Collection of figures on exhibition cast in plaster for the Beckwith Scholarship Competition.

Crucifixion Relief

Crucifixion Relief

45x30cm
Bronze
Roy Noakes Collection

Two figures

Two figures

67x50cm
Relief
Roy Noakes Collection

Figure

Figure

70cm
Cement Fondu

Executed in cement fondu, this work demonstrates a shift in modelling style, with more accentuated internal shapes—a technique further developed in Roy Noakes’ later works.

Figure installed in a private garden

Figure

70cm
Cement fondu

Roy Noakes

Roy Noakes Student work
Roy and James Butler carving "the Queen's Beasts"

Roy and James Butler
Roy and James Butler in the background behind a half-finished reclining clay figure in the ‘stone room’ at City and Guilds Institute.

Roy and James Butler in the stone room
Roy casting the seated male figure 1958/9.

Roy casting the seated male figure
Seated male figure

Seated male figure completed and coloured
Reclining figure

Reclining figure
Reclining figure in a field

Reclining figure in a field
Reclining figure

Reclining figure
Reclining figure

Reclining figure
Collection of figures cast in plaster

A collection of figures cast in plaster
Seated figure with arms stretched

Seated figure with arms stretched
Reverse view of seated figure with outstretched arms

Reverse view of seated figure with outstretched arms
Reverse view of three female seated figures

Reverse view of three female seated figures
Three female seated figures

Three female seated figures
Crouching figure

Crouching figure
Crouching figure sitting on grass, in front of a pink-painted brick wall.

Crouching figure
Two figures

Two figures 
Seated figure mounted outside at night

Seated figure mounted outside at night
seated female figure

Seated female figure
reclining figure

Reclining figure
Collection of figures on exhibition cast in plaster for the Beckwith Scholarship Competition

Collection of figures
Crucifixion Relief

Crucifixion Relief
Two figures

Two figures
Figure

Figure
Figure installed in a private garden

Figure