Born in Cornwall, Ellis studied sculpture at the University of Chichester. Following his degree, he spent 20 years as a sculpture conservator, firstly in London then in Ireland, having moved to Dublin in 1994.
He began carving his own work, finally leaving conservation in order to focus on his art practise full-time in 2006. Ellis joined the Oliver Sears Gallery in 2011, held his first solo show there in 2013, and in 2014 was invited into the National Self-Portrait Collection of Ireland.
In 2017 he exhibited at the RHA Annual Show in Dublin as an invited artist and the following year was shortlisted for the RHA/Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland’s (RCSI) Art Award.
In 2021 he won an RCSI competition to produce ten versions of the Cameron Centenary Award for services to public health. His most recent commission was for the dePaor Architects retrospective exhibition at VISUAL Carlow in 2022.
He is currently working on a new body of work for a forthcoming solo show. His sculptures feature in state, private and corporate collections and in the public realm.
Studio visit details: Please meet at the entrance to Pearse Street train station on Westland Row at 2pm sharp on Saturday 2nd March. We will then take a short walk to the artist’s studio.
Please note that it’s a working space, dusty and quite cold. Please dress accordingly with old, warm clothing.
This event is exclusive to RHA Friends only. Join the RHA Friends.
Booking required, places are limited.
Images courtesy of the artist.