I, Terry Merritt, am a British Artist, who was born in Dorking, Surrey, and now live in Chichester in England. My carpenter grandad, who I loved dearly, inspired me a lot. I remember studying woodwork at secondary school, making some furniture. I also remember how enjoyable technical drawing was at school.

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Diversity in my art works showed itself as an amateur cartoonist in my teenage years, which later developed towards portraiture and figurative art. Then I became an engineer and worked with various materials by designing and producing press tools and mould tools in 3 dimensional forms.

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I had unbelievable energy in my youth. I started to burn my energy with sport as well. I achieved Kickboxing 4th. Degree Black Belt and run my own club successfully by producing many Blackbelts and Champions.

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I achieved in any discipline because I loved whatever I did and I am a perfectionist, but my desire in art increased immensely in my senior years. I realised that there was an unlived life within me, which doing artworks fulfilled.  As I am overly critical of my own works, I decided to study ‘Fine Art with Sculpture’ at University of Chichester and achieved my BA Hons Diploma. 

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I proudly say now that I am a professional sculptor who creates artworks with technical skill because of my engineering background. It did not take long for me to realise that I am naturally drawn towards creating figurative artwork, because I always enjoy drawing and never stopped engaging with life drawing. I am inspired by the natural beauty of human anatomy, human gestures, and movement. I see the human body in all shapes and sizes as a work of art. In my creative process, I explore the human body combining curves, lines, and negative voids in the form of abstraction, semi realism and sensual abstraction, some of which rotate on their bases. I enjoy experimenting different themes, medium and styles, although my main priority is stone and wood carving. I also enjoy creating figurative wire drawings. 

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All my sculptures encourage the viewers to stop, look, touch, and interact with.