James Cattell

I was born in Wellington, New Zealand in 1954. As my family did not own a TV, and the winters were cold, I spent most of my time in my bedroom drawing, writing & making models. In 1979, I moved to Melbourne, Australia, but I have never lost the pleasure in pottering and tinkering.

For many years after university, I earned a living as a puppeteer and street performer, until I started an art business, 'Honeyweather & Speight' with my partner in 1988. Since then, I have produced numerous plaster fish, paintings, mosaics, props, museum models, ceramic works, furniture items, playground pieces, carvings, mannequins, jewellery boxes, puppets, automatons, toys, murals & sculptures, as well as three picture story books; while continuing to exhibit works from my studio practice in a variety of shows and galleries.

I studied law, history, philosophy, literature and art, but left university without a degree of any kind, determined to be a sculptor. I have continued to develop my technical skills through short courses and research and am currently studying welding.,