Hazel Reeves facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hazel Reeves
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Reeves in January 2019
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Croydon, Surrey, UK
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| Nationality | British |
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| Known for | Sculpture |
Hazel Reeves is a British sculptor. She creates amazing statues, mostly of people, using bronze. Her artworks are displayed all over England and Wales. You can find her public statues in cities like Carlisle, London, Congleton, and Manchester. Recently, Hazel has also started using sounds from nature and movement in her art. She is a member of the Royal Society of Sculptors and the Society of Women Artists.
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Early Life and Learning
Hazel Reeves was born in Croydon, Surrey. Today, she lives in Brighton, East Sussex. She went to Imberhorne School in East Grinstead.
Later, she studied at Kingston Business School and the London School of Economics. There, she learned about international development and gender equality. This means she studied how to help countries grow and how to make sure everyone, no matter their gender, is treated fairly.
In 2003, Hazel began studying sculpture. She learned from different art schools. These included the University of Sussex, Heatherley School of Fine Art in London, and the Florence Academy of Art in Italy.
Famous Sculptures and Artworks
Hazel Reeves is known for creating statues that tell important stories. Many of her sculptures are in public places. This means lots of people can see and enjoy them.
Sadako Sasaki: A Story of Peace
Hazel's first public artwork was a statue of Sadako Sasaki. Sadako was a Japanese girl who became a symbol of peace. The statue was shown on World Day of Peace in 2012. It tells Sadako's story and her 1,000 paper cranes. This story is used around the world to teach about peace.
Sir Nigel Gresley: The Train Designer
One of Hazel's first big public statues was of Sir Nigel Gresley. He was a famous engineer who designed steam trains. These included the Flying Scotsman and the Mallard.
Hazel's first idea for the statue included a duck. But some of Sir Nigel's family members did not like this. So, the duck was removed. The statue was put up at London King's Cross railway station in 2016. This was 75 years after Sir Nigel Gresley passed away.
The Cracker Packers: Celebrating Women Workers
On International Women's Day in 2018, Hazel's Cracker Packers statue was unveiled. It is in Carlisle, near a factory where biscuits are made. The statue honors the women who worked in the Carr's biscuit factory.
The statue shows two women factory workers. One is from the past and one is from the present. They stand on a giant biscuit. This artwork was chosen as one of hundreds for a special "Immortalised" season by Historic England.
Emmeline Pankhurst: A Champion for Women's Rights
In 2017, Hazel's design, Rise Up, Women, was chosen for a statue of Emmeline Pankhurst. Emmeline Pankhurst was a very important leader. She fought for women to have the right to vote.
Hazel's design won a public vote. It was also the top choice of the selection group. The statue was unveiled in St Peter's Square, Manchester in 2018. Manchester was Emmeline Pankhurst's hometown. In 2021, this statue won an award for being an excellent public sculpture.
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Elizabeth Wolstenholme Elmy: Fighting for Equality
Hazel also created a statue of Elizabeth Wolstenholme Elmy. Elizabeth was an activist who worked hard for equality throughout her life. Her statue, called "Our Elizabeth," was unveiled in Congleton in 2022. It was revealed on International Women's Day.
Future Projects and Other Works
Hazel Reeves often creates sculptures that highlight women who have not been recognized enough. She has also made portraits of disability rights activists. These include Baroness Jane Campbell and Diane Kingston.
Hazel is also working on a statue of Ada Nield Chew. Ada was a factory worker who became a strong voice for women's rights. This statue will be placed in Crewe.
In 2024, a new bust (a sculpture of a person's head and shoulders) by Hazel Reeves will honor Sir John Manduell. He was important in creating the Royal Northern College of Music.
Art Inspired by Nature
In 2021, Hazel was an artist-in-residence at Knepp Estate in West Sussex. She recorded bird sounds there. These sounds helped her create art about movement.
Her project, "Sculptural Murmurings," was shown at Fabrica Gallery in Brighton. It received funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England. They also funded her "Soundscapes of Hope" project. This project used her recordings from Knepp and nature reserves in Sweden.
In 2023, two sound events came from this work. They were "Layback with Nature" and "Sculptural Murmurings (II)."
In 2024, Hazel worked with a musician named Damian Montagu. They created a song called "Knepp Dawn." It celebrates the sounds of birds at dawn in the Knepp area. This area is home to birds like the nightingale and turtle dove. These birds are becoming rare in other places.
Teaching and Memberships
Hazel Reeves teaches workshops where people can learn to sculpt portraits. She teaches at places like Art Junction, Phoenix Brighton, Morley College, and the Art Academy.
She became a member of the Society of Women Artists in 2009. In 2017, she was elected a member of the Royal Society of Sculptors.
