Charles William George Hadcock DL is a British sculptor specialising in monumental sculpture that reflects his interest in geology, engineering and mathematics enriched with references to music, philosophy and poetry.
Aspects of the natural world, geology and engineering lie in combination within Charles Hadcock's work openly, or as hidden jewels. Finding that the mathematical formulas for shapes observed within the natural world are often the source for solving engineering design problems, Hadcock has incorporated these ideas both at first and at second hand into components for his sculptures. Thus, his direct observation of rocks becomes a source for the surface of his sculptures whilst mathematics comes to the fore in planning how a sculpture may be achieved with multiple castings of a single form. Hadcock's works are imbued with a visual vitality so that the sculptures remain free, dynamic, unrestrained and immediate. Hadcock prefers to work on his own sculpture rather than rely on production facilities so that the eye and hand of the artist is apparent in every work. His belief is that his knowledge, skill and techniques are constantly evolving, informing each piece he makes. Investigating Multiples, a solo exhibition in London at Reed's Wharf Gallery in 1996 followed the siting of Caesura IV at Sculpture at Goodwood. His first monumental public commission in 1997 Passacaglia came after a national competition for a permanent work to be installed on Brighton Beach. Controversial initially, Passacaglia is now an iconic feature of the Brighton beachfront. A 1999 exhibition of Hadcock's drawings and maquettes 'If in doubt, ask' at London's Imperial College was part of a drive by the University to encourage engineering students to learn about the Arts. "There is 1 in all of us" was a collaboration with soundscape engineers at the Gardner Arts Centre, University of Sussex, whilst the Peter Scott Gallery at Lancaster University had to find additional exhibition space outside the gallery in 2006. Hadcock was included in the 1999 exhibition of British sculptors 'Shape of the Century' at Salisbury Cathedral and Canary Wharf which was followed by inclusion in Bronze: Contemporary British Sculpture a group show to celebrate the millennium and the tradition of siting Bronze sculpture in London parks. Hadcock's monumental bronze Caesura VI was installed and remains in situ in Holland Park, London. At this time Hadcock moved his studio from London to Lancashire when the scale of his work required additional space and facilities to enable the production of the monumental works being frequently commissioned for locations around the country. Hadcock has on occasion produced commissions to brief, such as a monument to commemorate film directorJames Whale, erected in 2001 on the grounds of a multiplex cinema in Whale's home town of Dudley, and the installation of a sculptural gate and railings around a development in Central London. Hadcock's exhibiting programme continued with a solo show at Canary Wharf in 2003, followed by a second larger solo show in 2011. He exhibited in Sotheby's Beyond Limits Exhibition at Chatsworth House in 2011 and 2016 and in independent solo exhibitions in London at 60 Threadneedle Street 2015 in the award winning Eric Parry Architects designed foyer, and in a pop-up gallery near Green Park in 2016 with solo exhibition Fusion.
Business
Charles Hadcock is a director of Roach Bridge Tissues, a Lancashire based manufacturing company specialising in bespoke printing and conversion of tissue wrapping paper. Between 2008 and 2012 he managed the development and installation of a hydro-electric power generating station at Roach Bridge Mill, Lancashire, where he is also the development director for an ongoing project to create a new business village on the historic mill site. Hadcock is Chairman of Creative Lancashire a public and private sector initiative to encourage and support all the creative industries in Lancashire. Past projects include the development and management of The Watermark Studios a mix of office and studio space in Preston.
