Vincent Butler

Vincent Butler was a sculptor of figures, animals and portraits in bronze. Born in Manchester, he trained at Manchester School of Art before undertaking further study at Edinburgh College of Art, and completing his training in Milan under Marino Marini and Giacomo Manzu (1955-7). He worked there before moving to teach sculpture in Nigeria (1960-3) later returning to Edinburgh College of Art to teach life modelling and bronze casting.

He has held several one-man shows and has exhibited at the RSA and RGIFA since 1963.

Butler had a very prolific career, his work mainly focussing on the human figure, although he also created other works of animals and still lifes. His public ecclesiastical work includes, the Stations of the Cross in St. Mark's (R.C.) Church, Oxgangs Avenue, Edinburgh (1959); The woman Taken in Adultery, St. Mary's of the Angels (R.C.) Church, Flakirk (1960); a Cross for St. Paul's (R.C.) Church, Pennywell Road, Edinburgh (1968); and the Stations of the Cross in St. Anthony's (R.C.) Church, Rumford(1985). His portrait and ideal work includes a bust of Benno Schotz (1978, SNPG ), Mother and Child (1986) and Primogenito (1988). For Glasgow, he executed the bronze figure group Heritage and Hope in Springburn's Atlas Square (1989-90).

He won the Benno Schotz prize for portraiture in 1969, and was elected ARSA, 1972, and RSA, 1977. Vincent also made many sculpture portraits including of those of HRH Duke of Edinburgh, Lord Sutherland, Cardinal Gordon Gray, the Poet Laureate for Scotland Liz Lochhead, fellow sculptor Benno Schotz and other notable figures. His work was exhibited widely throughout the UK and further afield in Europe. Butler was a regular exhibitor at Gerber Fine Art, Glasgow, taking part in many group shows throughout his career.