Tom Merrifield
BORN,
Sydney, Australia. 1932 -2021.
Trained as a classical dancer from a young age. Moved to Britain in 1956 where his first engagement was being a principal dancer in Cinderella at the London Coliseum. Merrifield began drawing his fellow dancers. He had to have a cartilage operation which made dancing very painful, at this time he began sculpting. From 1972 he was sculpting full time and was showing his work in West End galleries. He has sculpt many of the worlds famous dancers including Anton Dolin, Alicia Markova and Wayne Sleep. He was commissioned to do a bust of the Princess of Wales after her death by the British Red Cross. He had a studio in Hampstead for many years. He said that he never gave up dancing he just continues to dance through different mediums.
Tom Merrifield sculptures are available from the sculpture park.
