Bio

Appointments

• The Davidson Arts Partnership Ltd | Director

• Royal Society of Sculptors | First Woman President

• Praemium Imperiale, Global Arts Prize, Japan | Past Advisor

• Royal Mint Advisory Panel for Coins and Medals | Past Member

• Westminster City Council Public Art Advisory Panel | Past Member

• Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths | Freeman

• City of London | Freeman

• Royal West of England Academy, Bristol | Academician

• Society of Women Artists | Honorary member

• Forest of Dean Sculpture Trust | Past Trustee 

Awards

• Royal Academy Schools | London, Gold Medal for Sculpture

• Royal Academy Schools | London, Bronze Medal for work from the Figure

Professional Career

• 1980’s Long Street Studio | Buckinghamshire

• Member of Animatronics Team Pinewood for films: ‘Aliens’: Director James Cameron: 20th Century Fox & ‘Little Shop of Horrors’: Director Frank Oz: Warner Bros.

• Director, Royal British Society of Sculptors Sponsorship Programme

• 1990’s George & Dragon Studio | London

• Independent Consultant | The Davidson Arts Partnership (DAP)

• 2009 – present day Surrey Studio

• Independent Consultant | The Davidson Arts Partnership (DAP)

• 2017 Opens Studio Sant Mateu | Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain

Exhibitions/Galleries

• The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition: London: 1989

• The Bircham Gallery Sculpture Garden: Kings Lynn: Norfolk: January – July 1990

• Art in Action: Waterperry: Oxford: 1990

• The Bow House Gallery: Barnet: Hertfordshire: 25 October – 11 November 1990

• The Bow House Gallery: Barnet: Hertfordshire: 13 June – 7 July 1991

• Sculpture at Margam: Margam Sculpture Park: Wales: 1991

• Art in Action: Waterperry: Oxford: 1993

• Chelsea Harbour Sculpture 93: Chelsea Harbour, London 1993

• Woodlands Gallery: Blackheath: London: 1994

• RWA Galleries: Bristol: 1994-1996

• One Woman Show: Coopers & Lybrand Atrium Gallery: London: 1997

• Well Hung Gallery: Notting Hill Gate: London 1998

• Art 2000: Henley on Thames: Oxfordshire: 2000

• Coombes Fine Art: Tower Bridge: London: 2000

• Betina Fine Art: Dorchester Hotel: London: 2001

• ‘Unrelated’: The Study Gallery: Poole: 2002

• RWA Galleries: Bristol: 21 October – 30 December 2012

• The Jerram Gallery: Sherborne: 21 September – 9 October 2013

• RWA Galleries: Bristol: 9 October – 27 November 2016

• SWA: Mall Galleries London: 4 July – 9 July 2017

• RWA Galleries: Bristol: 1 October – 3 December 2017

• SWA: Mall Galleries London: 25 September – 30 September 2018

• RWA Galleries: Bristol: 6 October – 25 November 2018

• SWA Mall Galleries London: 25 September – 29 September 2019

• RWA Galleries: Bristol: 29 September – 1 December 2019

• SWA Online Exhibition: 22 September – 30 September 2020

• RWA Galleries: 05 December 2020 – 07 March 2021

Catalogues & Publications

• Rhino Rescue: Lot 55: Sotheby’s: 26 October 1987

• Art at Work in Milton Keynes: Milton Keynes Development Corporation: August 1990

• Milton Keynes: Image and Reality: Terence Bendixon: 01 November 1991p.193

• Buildings of England, Buckinghamshire: Nikolaus Pevsner, Elizabeth Williamson, Geoffrey K. Brandwood: Penguin: Second edition 1994 p.116

• Chelsea Harbour Sculpture 93: ISBN 10: 09521/ ISBN 13: 978 09521 59209

• James Butler R.A Sculpture: Philomena Davidson: Richard Hagen: 1995

• Public Sculpture of Staffordshire and the Black Country 2005

• Celebrating Moore: Works from the collection of the Henry Moore Foundation: Lund Humphries Publishers, London: 2006 p.58

• The Royal Mint Advisory Committee on the Design of Coins, Medals, Seals and Decorations: In celebration of the 250th meeting, 03 June 2008

• Peter Matthews: London’s Statues and Monuments: Shire Publications: 2012 p.57

• Delight: Celebrating a decade of public art on Regent Street: The Crown Estate 2014

• Rachel Barnett: MK50: Public Art & Creative Writing 2016

• A Statue for Mary, The Seacole Legacy: Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal: October 2016

• The Leathersellers’ Tapestry: Published 19 April 2017

• Dreweatts: Modern and Contemporary Art: The Model: Lot 249: 22 October 2020

Online

• Lady Henry Somerset Memorial: https://www.londonremembers.com/subjects/philomena-davidson-davis

• Statues hither and thither: http://vanderkrogt.net/statues/object.php?webpage=ST&record=gblo072

• Art in Action: http://www.artinaction.org.uk/archive/sculpture/

• Oriana: Davidson Davis who among her other accomplishments had created the titular monster of the 1986 film Aliens was to advise on sculptures to take place on board.

• Oriana: http://orianaof1995.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/orianas-art-collection.html

• Royal Mint: http://www.royalmint.com/~/media/Files/AnnualReports/ar200001.pdf

• National Portrait Gallery: British Bronze Founders: http://www.npg.org.uk/research/programmes/british-bronze-founders-and-plaster-figure-makers-1800-1980-1/british-bronze-founders-and-plaster-figure-makers-1800-1980-b

• The Sitting Room: Buscot Park: http://www.buscot-park.com/house/the-sitting-room

• Icarus: http://www.pmsa.org.uk/pmsa-database/6509/

• British and Irish Artists of the 20th Century: http://www.artbiogs.co.uk/1/artists/d

• RWA: http://www.rwa.org.uk/artists/philomena-davidson

Special Effects

• Little Shop of Horrors: Animatronics modeller 1986

• Aliens: Creature effects crew 1986 http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0205294/

Articles & Reviews

• Sara Payne: Real Life Art: The Times Educational Supplement: 05 June 1970 p.71

• Are you someone with something to say?: The Daily Telegraph Magazine: No 326: 22 January 1971:p27

• Sculpture is pupils’ reward: St Augustine’s Church: Heelands: Milton Keynes: MK Citizen: Friday 08 May 1981

• Cast of thousands: RA Summer Show: MK Citizen: 18 June 1987

• In the presence of royalty: King Philip the second of Spain: Armada Anniversary celebration: Greenwich King Philip II of Spain: Armada Exhibition: Maritime Museum: Milton Keynes Mirror: Thursday 28 January 1988

• Guild goes to the capital: Milton Keynes Craft Guild Chairman Philomena Davis: MK Herald: Friday 12 August 1988

• Philomena Davis at MK Exhibition Gallery: Diary: City Arts: Milton Keynes: 1989 p.20

• Sculptor’s unveiled!: MK Citizen: Thursday 27 July 1989

• Art in the bushes: Milton Keynes Gazette: 03 August 1989

• Creations come closer to home: Magic Carpet Ride: Milton Keynes Mirror: 03 August 1989

• Mayor figures it out: MK Citizen: Milton Keynes: Thursday 03 August 1989

• Mothers of invention: City Arts: 1989 p.23

• Simon Bowker: Monster success for Phil: MK Herald & Post: Thursday 21 December 1989

• First woman President: The Daily Telegraph: Thursday 17 May 1990

• Mrs Philomena Davidson Davis has been elected President of the Royal Society of British Sculptors: Court and social: The Daily Telegraph: 03 May 1990

• Sally Staples: Sculptress carves her path to the top: The Sunday Express: 15 July 1990

• Breaking the mould: Arts and Entertainment: Prospect: Milton Keynes: October/November 1990 p.42

• John Lovell: English sculptor to give city’s Water Girl a sister: Portland Press Herald: Portland Maine USA: 27 January 1990

• Social News: The Daily Telegraph: Wednesday 06 February 1991

• An exact replica: London Weekly: The Times: Friday 08 February 1991

• The Guardian: Wednesday 06 February 1991

• Phyllida Shaw: Chipping away at traditional values: Arts Management Weekly: 05 March 1992 p.2/3

• Public Art changes hands: Milton Keynes Messenger: April 1992 p.10

• Country Life Frontispiece: Vol.CLXXXV11 No. 10: 11 March 1993

• P&O Harbour the very best in Sculpture: Wavelength: May 1993

• Art in the Cities: Models of Innovation: Cities Management: May/June 1994 Vol 1 No 6 p.18

• Art Review Reader Day: June 1993

• Big Busts: The Observer: 13 June 1993

• Jonathan Donald: Queen previews sculpture show: Kensington News: 16 June 1993

• Paul Barker: Harbour Masters: Evening Standard: 17 June 1993

• Richard Cork: Airing their differences: Sculpture at Chelsea Harbour: The Times: 18 June 1993

• John McEwen: On the Costa del Chelsea: The Sunday Telegraph: 20 June 1993

• Etcetera: The Royal Academy Magazine: Summer 1993

• Antony Thorncroft: Sculpture regenerated: Off the Wall: The Financial Times: 24 June 1993

• Brian Sewell: Things to do with industrial waste: Evening Standard: 15 July 1993 p.30/31

• A riverbus fit for a Queen: Royal visitor arrives at Chelsea Harbour: Wavelength: July 1993

• Tessa Thomas: My speciality: The Financial Times: Saturday 23 October 1993

• Medals that break the mould: The Independent: 26 August 1994

• Simon Tait: Sculpture: How the Royal Society of British Sculptors got back in business: The Sunday Times: Weekend: Saturday 20 May 1995

• Carving a niche: Business Daily: The Scotsman: Friday 16 June 1995

• Antony Thorncroft: Sculpture regenerated: Off the Wall: Weekend: The Financial Times: 24 June 1995

• Mary Sara: Sculptors help firms reshape their image: Business Post: Yorkshire Post: Thursday 27 June 1995 p.13

• Philomena Davidson Davis: Present Day Sculpture: Arts Club Journal: Spring 1995 p.20

• Maggie Brown: Sculpture is unexpectedly in the news: The Independent: 21 June 1995

• Simon Tait: Sculpture: How the Royal Society of British Sculptors got back to business: Carving out a new reputation: The Sunday Times 1996

• Robin Stringer: Take a walk with history: Evening Standard: Monday 08 January 1996 p.28

• Moore’s daughter loses fight for his art: The Daily Telegraph: 08 March 1996 p 3

• John Rendall: Gerald Laing sculpture preview: Hello Magazine No 402: 13 April 1996

• Win an arty day out at Chelsea Harbour: Chiswick Gazette: 14 June 1996

• Win an arty day out at Chelsea Harbour: Gazette (Greenford & Northolt): 14 June 1996

• Win an arty day out at Chelsea Harbour: the Gazette Hammersmith Fulham & Shepherds Bush: 14 June 1996

• Leslie Geddes-Brown: Sculpture the poor relation: The Spectator: 06 July 1996

• John Parry: Old China reflected in new steel: The Times: 15 August 1996

• Sculptures unveiled at Donnington Valley: Newbury Weekly News: 17 October 1996

• Art and Golf: two major sculptures to be unveiled at Donnington Valley: Berkshire Life: 17 October 1996

• Flight of the Valkyries: Estates Gazette: 19 October 1996

• Philomena Davidson Davis: Edith Cavell Statue by George Frampton (1860-1928): Masterpiece of the Month: Art and Craft: October 1996 p.23

• Becky Barrow: Classic story of success: Sunday Business: 20 October 1996

• Alan Piper: Back in good shape: The Insider: Mail on Sunday: 20 October 1996

• Student’s sculpture design is a winner: Wolverhampton Express & Star: 16 January 1997

• Clive Fewins: Today’s fine garden sculpture owes more to Moore than Rodin: Garden Gallery openings: The Financial Times: 29 March 1997

• How to get the look: Design directory: Style: The Sunday Times: 27 April 1997

• Dalya Alberge: All women shortlist takes Turner by surprise: Home news: The Times: 18 June 1997

• John Parry: Don’t be afraid of ridicule: ARTS: The Spectator: 16 January 1999

• Philomena Davidson Davis: The future is in our hands and our fingertips: National Campaign for the Arts: Arts News: Winter Issue 2000 p.16

• Llloyd George to get statue honour: Evening Standard: 04 January 2001

• Suffragette Pankhurst will take place of honour at Westminster: The Sunday Times: 21 January 2001

• Controversy hits plans for new Trafalgar Statue: Londoners Diary: 28 May 2003

• A different kind of sculpting: Gallery: Art Newsletter: Issue 02 May 2005: Capital Commitment: Land Securities

• Stuart Flitton: Campaign for Seacole statue: The Times: 22 March 2006

• Stuart Flitton: Mary Seacole memorial a step closer: The Times Online: 01 August 2006

• Stuart Flitton: Artists and Sculptors called to honour Crimean heroine: The Times: 24 July 2007

• Selection Panel named for Mary Seacole memorial: Jamaica Information Service: 26 July 2007

• New Memorial Commission: The Art Newspaper No 191: May 2008

• Mary Seacole memorial should inspire nurses: The Times: 25 June 2008

• New Memorial Commission: Modern Painters: June 2008: p.102

• New Memorial Commission: Frieze Magazine: Listings: Issue 116: June July August 2008

• Chris Green: Memorial to Crimea’s black nurse in danger: The Independent: 25 January 2010

• Mary Seacole Statue at St Thomas’ Hospital approved by councillors: SE1: Wednesday 25 April 2012

• Maxine Robert – Regent Street mise sur l'art pour monter en gamme – Les Echos – 19 August 2014

• Julia Cahill – Art and Soul – Estates Gazette – 20 September 2014

TV & Radio

• OMNIBUS: The Royal Academy of Arts: Producer Richard Marquand: BBC 1 Recording 03 May 1972

• Jenni Murray: Woman’s Hour: BBC Radio 4: 14 June 1993

• London Today: Queen Visits Chelsea Harbour Sculpture Exhibition: ITV: 16 June 1993

• London Tonight: Queen visits Chelsea Harbour today: ITN: 16 June 1993

• Entertainment UK: Turning heads at London’s exclusive Chelsea Harbour: Thames television: 16 June 1993