Tom’s early experimenting in painting was finally appreciated when he won first prize in the prestigious BBC `Art 88` competition. His big success in sculpture can in 1996 when a representative of major Liverpool Company, Littlewoods, saw his 7” 6’ sculpture of John Lennon. He was commissioned to sculpt two monumental size bronzes of the Moores brothers for Liverpool’s premier shopping area, Church Street.
His work forms part of the urban landscape throughout Liverpool as well as in Chorley, Lancashire, Knowsley, Merseyside, Germany and New York. He has also sold many smaller works around the world.
Tom is the first choice of Sculptor for many major Liverpool institutions. Now his work is known internationally since he creating the iconic statue of John Lennon at the renamed Liverpool John Lennon Airport which was admired by Yoko Ono and Unveiled by Her Majesty The Queen. His sculptures of Ken Dodd and Bessie Braddock commissioned by Merseytravel at Lime Street station, have been much admired and welcome people to the city of Liverpool.
Tom’s most popular work, and an integral part of the Liverpool Tourist trail, is his sculpture of Liverpool FC’s legendary manager Bill Shankly. Since its unveiling in 1997, thousands of football fans across the world have been pictured with this Sculpture which stands at the entrance to Anfield.
Commissioned by Calsberg International for Liverpool Football Club, it is cast in bronze, stands 14 feet high off the ground on a plinth of Scottish granite - in deference to Shankly’s Scottish Mining background. It is still one of Tom’s most popular works and is seen on television channels all over the world at every football match.
A tribute about the Sculpture of Bill Shankly was written in ‘The Kop’ in January of 1998;
260 Tom Murphy maquette of his celebrated sculpture of Bill Shankly that stands at the entrance to Liverpool Football Club’s Anfield stadium, one of three presented to LFC as part of the commission of the full size statue sponsored by Carlsberg in 1998, never previously available for sale, this is a unique opportunity to acquire an original work of art of arguably the most significant personality in Liverpool Football Club history, cast in beautifully patinated bronze, mounted on a pale marble base, 81 by 25cm., in perfect, original condition
Tom Murphy was born in 1949. He started his artistic career initially as a hobby and moved quickly to an intense period of self-study, mastering a range of techniques in many art disciplines. Previously he worked in a number of occupations which included; a seaman, salesman, musician and impressionist in a pop group.
Later he graduated as a teacher at Liverpool John Moores University and taught Art at the City of Liverpool Community College and other Liverpool Colleges. He also worked at a Centre for People with Learning Difficulties. His differing careers and interest in the characteristics of people, have both acted as a rich source of inspiration in both his paintings and sculptures.
“They swear they saw a miracle at Anfield on December 6, and sadly it wasn’t on the pitch. As Liverpool succumbed to Manchester United on one side of the Kop, behind the great grandstand the new bronze statue of Bill Shankly shed a tear for his old team’s troubles.
The liquid spied trickling down the legendary manager’s chiselled features was of course the rainwater of a grey Merseyside winter, but even the absence of paranormal phenomena will not prevent the landmark becoming a footballing icon of religious proportions.
A tribute to the man who made Liverpool great will prove as big a draw for the Anfield faithful as any weeping Madonna or milk-secreting Buddha would for other congregations. A new airport may not be required to cope with the influx of pilgrims, but since its first weekend matchday the statue has provided a fresh focal point for the fan’s arrival at the ground.”
Murphy has also been commissioned for a series of moving Memorials for Hillsborough, The Liverpool Blitz, Noel Chavasse VC and Bar Liverpool VCs Memorial, The Liverpool Pals Memorial and the Traffic Memorial.
He is also an accomplished painter and has been commissioned to paint many key Merseyside figures including the official retirement portrait of Mr John Moores. £20,000 - 30,000*
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www.grahambuddauctions.co.uk
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