Don Potter
| Donald Steele Potter | |
|---|---|
Sculpture of Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell by Don Potter (1960).
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| Born |
21 April 1902 Newington, Swale, Kent, England |
| Died | 7 June 2004 (aged 102) |
| Education | Studied under Eric Gill |
| Known for | Sculpture, pottery |
| Notable work | Sculpture of Robert Baden-Powell (1960) |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Potter |
| Patron(s) | Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell; Bryanston School |
Donald Steele Potter (21 April 1902 – 7 June 2004) was an English sculptor, wood carver, potter and teacher.
Don Potter was born in Newington, near Sittingbourne, Kent, the son of a school teacher, and attended a private school. He joined the Wolf Cubs at the age of eight and became a keen participant in the scouting movement.
Potter developed as a wood carver, producing totem poles, gates and gateways. By the time Potter reached the age of twenty, the head of the Scouts, Baden-Powell himself, realized he was an expert craftsman. Potter camped at Baden-Powell's house at Pax Hill near Bentley, Hampshire and undertook carving commissions for him. He used very old local fallen oaks, said to be 1,200 years old. For the 1929 World Jamboree, Potter designed totem poles for the British Dominions of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and New Zealand. A granite statue of Baden-Powell by Potter in 1960 is now located in front of Baden-Powell House in London.
As well as wood carving, Potter started to work in stone as well and met Jacob Epstein (who had studied with Auguste Rodin in Paris). In 1931, he approached Eric Gill and asked to study under him. Gill was an engraver, designer of typefaces and sculptor, with carvings in Westminster Cathedral. Initially, Potter was on a six-month trial, but he remained as Gill's pupil for six years. He worked with Gill on sculptures at the Midland Hotel, Morecambe. While with Gill, he undertook wood carving, including the panels for the doors for the Rare Books Room of 1934 in the Radcliffe Science Library (Oxford University), the crucifixion for the altar of the St Peter the Apostle church (Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk), and a crucifix in the woods at Pigotts where Gill was based near High Wycombe.
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