View source for Tim Tolkien

{{Short description|British artist (born 1962)}}
{{Update|date=December 2019}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox artist
| name          = Tim Tolkien
| image         = Sentinel sculpture TimTolkien.jpg
| imagesize     =
| alt           =
| caption       = ''Sentinel'' near the Jaguar works in Castle Bromwich, formerly the [[Castle Bromwich Assembly]] Spitfire factory
| birth_name     =
| birth_date     = {{birth year and age|1962|10}}
| birth_place      =
| death_date     =
| death_place    =
| nationality   = English
| field         = Sculpture
| training      =
| movement      =
| works         = [[Sentinel (sculpture)|Sentinel]]
| patrons       =
| influenced by =
| influenced    =
| awards        =
| website       =
}}

'''Tim Tolkien''' (born October 1962) is an English sculptor who has designed several [[monumental sculpture]]s, including the award-winning ''[[Sentinel (sculpture)|Sentinel]]''.

He has a metal sculpture and public Art business at [[Cradley Heath]], [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]].  He is also a bass player and member of the band Klangstorm, founded in 1996.

==Early life==
Tim is the great-nephew of the writer [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]. He was raised in the village of [[Hughenden Valley]] and went to the [[Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe]]. He graduated with a degree in fine art (sculpture) from the [[University of Reading]] in 1984.

==Works==
===''Sentinel''===
''[[Sentinel (sculpture)|Sentinel]]'' is Tolkien's most famous work to date.  In 1996, he was appointed by CAN<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.can-uk.co.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991104060239/http://www.can-uk.co.uk/ |archive-date=4 November 1999 |title=Collective Art Noise}}</ref> who were awarded the contract to develop public art proposals for the estate using [[National Lottery (United Kingdom)|National Lottery]] money, as an artist in residence to help with regeneration of the [[Castle Vale]] estate in [[Birmingham]].  The following year, he consulted with residents about an art project for the entrance to the estate.  They favoured a sculpture featuring [[Supermarine Spitfire|Spitfires]], reflecting the area's flying history and particularly the [[Castle Bromwich Assembly]] which stood nearby.  The large steel and [[aluminum|aluminium]] ''[[Sentinel (sculpture)|Sentinel]]'' Spitfire sculpture was the result, showing three Spitfires peeling off up into the air in different directions.  It was unveiled on 14 November 2000, near the former factory which built them, by their former [[test pilot]] [[Alex Henshaw]].

===Cedric Hardwicke===
Tolkien also sculpted a memorial to the actor [[Cedric Hardwicke|Sir Cedric Hardwicke]], at the latter's birthplace of [[Lye, West Midlands|Lye]], West Midlands, for [[Metropolitan Borough of Dudley|Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council]].  The memorial takes the form of a giant filmstrip, the illuminated cut metal panels illustrating scenes from some of Sir Cedric's best-known roles, which include ''[[The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939 film)|The Hunchback of Notre Dame]]'', ''[[The Shape of Things to Come]]'', and ''[[The Ghost of Frankenstein]]''. It was unveiled in November 2005.

===Ent===
His proposals for a 20-foot (6.1 meter) high [[statue]] of [[Treebeard]], an [[Ent]] from ''The Lord of the Rings'', to be erected on the Green at [[Moseley]], near J. R. R. Tolkien's childhood home in Birmingham, have met with some controversy, but permission for its erection – originally scheduled for May 2007 – was granted by [[Birmingham City Council]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/outrage-as-tolkien-statue-is-approved-38145|title=Outrage as Tolkien statue is approved|date=March 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/6412017.stm|title = Tolkien statue gets the go ahead|date = 2 March 2007}}</ref>

=== Catalogue ===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Work
! {{ubl|Location|(Birmingham unless stated)}}
! Date
! Picture
! {{ubl|[[Geographic coordinate system|Coordinates]]|(With links to map and aerial photo sources)}}
! Notes

|- class="vcard"
| class="fn org" | ''[[James Watt's Mad Machine]]''
| class="label" | [[Winson Green Outer Circle tram stop|Winson Green Metro station]]
| {{Start date|1998}}
| [[File:James Watt's Mad Machine - Winson Green Outer Circle Tram Stop (48800549752).jpg|150px]]
| {{Coord|52.497216|-1.931290|region:GB-BIR_type:landmark}}
| Supported by Eric Klein Velderman, [[Paula Woof]] and local school pupils.<ref>[http://www.centro.org.uk/wwwroot/Art/Birmingham/locations/Winson%20Green.asp ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061007062837/http://www.centro.org.uk/wwwroot/Art/Birmingham/locations/Winson%20Green.asp |date=7 October 2006 }}</ref>

|- class="vcard"
| class="fn org" | [[Lanchester Car Monument]]
| class="label" | Nechells
| {{Start date|1995}}
| [[File:Lanchester car sculpture.jpg|150px]]
| {{Coord|52.4930|-1.8729|region:GB-BIR_type:landmark}}
| On the site of the development of the first British petrol-engined car<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bplphoto.co.uk/imagefiles/F23/pages/F23-034.html |title=Birmingham Photographs – Lanchester Car Public Art |publisher=Bplphoto.co.uk |accessdate=20 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717004346/http://www.bplphoto.co.uk/imagefiles/F23/pages/F23-034.html |archivedate=17 July 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

|- class="vcard"
| class="fn org" | Mosaics
| class="label" | [[Menzies High School]], [[Sandwell]]
|
|
|
| With Eric Klein Velderman and pupils.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.schools.sandwell.net/menzies/news.htm |title=Menzies High School - News |accessdate=2006-04-08 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20041030202510/http://www.schools.sandwell.net/menzies/news.htm |archivedate=30 October 2004 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

|- class="vcard"
| class="fn org" | ''Millennium'' Sculpture
| class="label" | St.Nicholas School, [[Kenilworth]]
| {{Start date|2001}}
|
|
| With pupils<ref>{{cite web |url=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jeremy.eastaugh/mill01.html |title=St. Nick's Sculpture |accessdate=20 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324084647/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jeremy.eastaugh/mill01.html |archivedate=24 March 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

|- class="vcard"
| class="fn org" | ''Dragonfly'' sculpture
| class="label" | Hembrook Infants and Junior school, [[Warwickshire]]
| {{Start date|df=yes|2003|05}}
|
|
| With Emma Dicks<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/corporate/artsdata.nsf/2bad409a4dffa9a780256bc600351a05/335501d35b19570780256cf7005941e4?OpenDocument |title=Arts Contact Warwickshire |publisher=Warwickshire.gov.uk |accessdate=20 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930043708/http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/corporate/artsdata.nsf/2bad409a4dffa9a780256bc600351a05/335501d35b19570780256cf7005941e4?OpenDocument |archivedate=30 September 2007 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

|- class="vcard"
| class="fn org" | ''Gateway''
| class="label" | Belle Vue Primary School, [[Stourbridge]]
|
|
|
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.belle-vue.dudley.gov.uk/school-information/sculpture.htm |title=Belle Vue Primary School |accessdate=2006-04-08 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060211070317/http://www.belle-vue.dudley.gov.uk/school-information/sculpture.htm |archivedate=11 February 2006 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

|- class="vcard"
| class="fn org" | [[Triumphal arch|Archway]]
| class="label" | Springhallow School, [[Ealing]]
|
|
|
| With pupils.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisealing.co.uk/education/schoolnews/display.var.396459.0.pupils_get_a_spring_in_their_step.php |title=Pupils get a spring in their step | work=Ealing Times |publisher=Thisisealing.co.uk |date=28 July 2003 |accessdate=20 May 2013}}</ref>

|- class="vcard"
| class="fn org" | Memorial to [[Cedric Hardwicke|Sir Cedric Hardwicke]]
| class="label" | [[Lye, West Midlands|Lye]], West Midlands
| {{Start date|df=yes|2005|11}}
| [[File:Sir Cedric Hardwicke sculpture - Dudley Road, Lye (38803701042).jpg|150px]]
| {{Coord|52.458776|-2.117764|type:landmark_region:GB-DUD}}
|
|- class="vcard"
| class="fn org" | ''Bluebell''
| class="label" | [[Sot's Hole Local Nature Reserve]], West Bromwich
| {{Start date|2008}}
| [[File:Tim Tokien - Sot's Hole Bluebell - 01.jpeg|150px]]
| {{coord|52.527268|-1.984727|region:GB_type:landmark}}
|<ref name="FoSH">{{cite web |url=http://www.edkins.com/sotshole/news.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630113501/http://www.edkins.com/sotshole/news.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-06-30 |title=The Friends of Sot's Hole |accessdate=21 September 2008 |publisher=The Friends of Sot's Hole |date=Spring 2008 }}</ref>

|- class="vcard"
| class="fn org" | Gate
| class="label" | Sot's Hole Local Nature Reserve, West Bromwich
| {{Start date|2008}}
| [[File:Tim Tolkien, Sot's Hole gate - 2013-05-20 - Andy Mabbett - 01.jpg|150px]]
| {{coord|52.527202|-1.984665|region:GB_type:landmark}}
|<ref name="FoSH" />

|- class="vcard"
| class="fn org" | Gates
| class="label" | [[RSPB Sandwell Valley]]
|
| [[File:RSPB Reserve Gates 1.jpg|150px]]
| {{coord|52.535371|-1.947992|region:GB-BIR_type:landmark}}
|
|- class="vcard"
| class="fn org" | ''[[Sentinel (sculpture)|Sentinel]]''
| class="label" | [[Castle Bromwich]]
| {{Start date|df=yes|2000|11|14}}
| [[File:Sentinel sculpture TimTolkien 05.jpg|150px]]
| {{coord|52.5134|-1.7981|region:GB-BIR_type:landmark}}
|
|- class="vcard"
| class="fn org" | [[Cardinal Newman]] statue
| class="label" | [[Birmingham Newman University]]
| {{end date|2010}}
| [[File:Newman Statue021.jpg|150px]]
| {{Coord|52.43385|-1.99419|region:GB-BIR_type:landmark}}
|Was at [[Cofton Park]] on 19 September 2010 for [[Pope Benedict XVI]] to beatify [[Cardinal Newman]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-11267045|title = Tolkien relation sculpts Cardinal Newman statue|work = BBC News|date = 10 September 2010}}</ref> Now located at [[Birmingham Newman University]] in the Ryland Quad of the campus.
|- class="vcard"
| class="fn org" | Gate
| class="label" | Holly Wood Local Nature Reserve, [[Sandwell]]
| {{Start date|2012}}
| [[File:Holly Wood Nature Reserve gate - 02.JPG|150px]]
| {{coord|52.548281|-1.925456|region:GB_type:landmark}}
|<ref name="Philpotts">{{cite journal|last=Philpotts|first=Chris|date=26 April 2013|title=Whitecrest pupils add the icing on the gate!|journal=Great Barr Observer|issue=1868|page=5}}</ref>

|- class="vcard"
| class="fn org" | ''Roots and Branches''
| class="label" | [[Handsworth Park]]
| {{Start date|df=yes|2020}}
| [[File:Roots and Branches sculpture at Handsworth Park (51490613909).jpg|150px]]
| {{Coord|52.51187|-1.92524|type:landmark_region:landmark}}
| With Graham Jones. Four trees with extended roots on the ground in steel which can be used as seats.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.handsworthcreative.com/roots-and-branches|title=Roots and Branches - Four Corners Sculpture|publisher=Handsworth Creative|access-date=25 December 2023}}</ref>

|- class="vcard"
| class="fn org" | ''Here and Now Bench''
| class="label" | [[Handsworth Park]]
| {{Start date|df=yes|2023|8}}
|
| {{Coord|52.51038|-1.92825|type:landmark_region:landmark}}
| Was inspired by a fairground waltzer car. Was commissioned to mark Birmingham hosting the [[2022 Commonwealth Games]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.handsworthcreative.com/the-commonwealth-here-and-now|title=The Commonwealth - Here and Now|publisher=Handsworth Creative|access-date=25 December 2023}}</ref> 

|}

{{kml}}

Tolkien also undertook the redesign of [[Lea Hall railway station]], Birmingham, with Eric Klein Velderman; completed in 1998)<ref>[http://www.centro.org.uk/wwwroot/Art/Birmingham/locations/Lea%20Hall.asp ]  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061007062910/http://www.centro.org.uk/wwwroot/Art/Birmingham/locations/Lea%20Hall.asp |date=7 October 2006 }}</ref>

==Other notable work==
He has also worked with the singer and television presenter [[Toyah Willcox]], designing her [[armour]]-like stage costumes and, in 2005, making a documentary film for [[BBC2]], comparing New Zealand's successful exploitation of its movie-related [[J. R. R. Tolkien]] associations, with that of J.R.R.'s (and Toyah's) home town, [[Birmingham]].

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Tim Tolkien}}
{{wikiquote}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051201123523/http://www.spitfire-sculpture.co.uk/spit1.htm ''Sentinel'' Spitfire sculpture]
*[http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/birminghampost/news/tm_objectid=15530734&method=full&siteid=50002&headline=tolkien-statue-plan-splits-community-name_page.html ''Birmingham Post'': Tolkien statue plan splits community]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120415072818/http://online.dudley.gov.uk/news/fullrelease.asp?recid=2097 Lye movie star gets civic honour]
*Klangstorm
**[http://www.hacha.net/reviews/Relix%20Magazine%20and%20Relix%20Records.htm review]
**[https://web.archive.org/web/20021010142407/http://www.under-score.freeserve.co.uk/klangstorm/ archived website]
*Toyah
**[https://web.archive.org/web/20051220215300/http://littletears.co.uk/archiveinterviews123.html Armour for Toyah]
**[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929080607/http://www.toyahwillcox.com//cgi-bin/diary//display.pl?i=1118090437 Film with Toyah]

{{Public art in Birmingham}}
{{Tolkien}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tolkien, Tim}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English sculptors]]
[[Category:English male sculptors]]
[[Category:People educated at the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Reading]]
[[Category:20th-century British sculptors]]
[[Category:People from Wycombe District]]
[[Category:People from Cradley Heath]]
[[Category:Tolkien family|Tim]]
[[Category:English people of German descent]]