Consider a Glasgow stonemason’s apprentice. That young man became Sir William Reid Dick. This blue plaque marks a place where William Reid Dick honed his craft. It is located at Clifton Hill Studios, in St John’s Wood. English Heritage erected this plaque in 2001.
William Reid Dick was born in Glasgow in 1879. At twelve, he apprenticed with Scott & Rae. There, he learned stone carving for five years. From 1899 to 1907, he studied at Glasgow School of Art. During this time, he worked for a firm of stone decorators.
In 1908, William Reid Dick moved to London. His studio was at 6 Clifton Hill Studios. After moving to London, he assisted sculptor Edwin Whitney-Smith. He also took evening classes at Kennington School of Art. Within five years, Dick was a well-known London artist.
William Reid Dick first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1908. Except for a break during World War One, he exhibited there yearly. He also exhibited at other prestigious venues. These included the Royal Society of Portrait Painters.
William Reid Dick received many notable commissions. These included a bust of Harry Lauder in 1911. He created war memorials for Bushey and Rickmansworth in 1921. The Kitchener memorial chapel in St Paul’s Cathedral followed between 1922 and 1925. Dick also sculpted an eagle for the Royal Air Force Memorial. Another iconic work is the lion atop the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium.
Further works include the Leverhulme Memorial in Port Sunlight in 1930. Then the Spirit of Welcome statue for Nottingham Council House in 1931. The Arras Memorial at Faubourg d’Amiens Cemetery in France appeared in 1932. He created a memorial to David Livingstone at Victoria Falls in 1934. Statues of George V for Westminster Abbey and Delhi followed. He also sculpted Lady Godiva for Coventry and a Roosevelt memorial in London.
William Reid Dick was recognized by his peers. He became an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1921. He was a Royal Academician in 1928. From 1933 to 1937, he served as President of the Royal Society of British Sculptors. From 1938, he was King’s Sculptor in Ordinary for Scotland. He was knighted in 1935.
Sir William Reid Dick died in 1961. This plaque honors his time working here. Specifically in Studio 3 from 1910 to 1914. It marks a period of growth for the sculptor. A time when William Reid Dick transitioned from promising talent to established artist. Take a moment to appreciate the legacy of Sir William Reid Dick. His work continues to inspire, a testament to his skill and dedication.