11 Facts About Peter Hollins

Peter Hollins was a British sculptor who operated throughout the 19th century.

Peter Hollins was born on 1 May 1800 at 17 Great Hampton Street, Birmingham, the fourth child and eldest son of the sculptor and architect William Hollins and his wife, Catherine.

Peter Hollins studied drawing under Vincent Barber and sculpture in his father's studio before moving to London in 1822 to work for Francis Chantrey.

Peter Hollins assisted Chantrey with the installation of his portrait of James Watt in the Watt Memorial Chapel at St Mary's Church in Handsworth.

In London, Peter Hollins shared a studio with fellow Birmingham artist, Henry Room, in Old Bond Street where he held an exhibition of his work in 1831.

Peter Hollins visited Italy around 1835 and returned to Birmingham in 1843 to take over his father's studio on Great Hampton Street in the Jewellery Quarter.

Peter Hollins sculpted the public statues of Sir Robert Peel in Birmingham and Dr Jephson in Jephson Gardens, Leamington Spa.

Peter Hollins was vice-president of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists for 37 years and exhibited at the Royal Academy.

Peter Hollins taught modelling for the Birmingham Society of Artists and was instrumental in securing the Royal Charter for the Society in 1868.

Peter Hollins ceased stone sculpture later in life due to his suffering from rheumatism, which was perhaps caused by prolonged working with wet clay in a cold studio.

Peter Hollins died in the house of his birth on 16 August 1886.