Sheep Shearer Sculpture Outside Tenants Common Room

The Sheep Shearer is a sculpture created in 1955 by Ralph Brown, located outside the Tenants Common Room in Harlow. It was installed in 1956 after being purchased by the Harlow Arts Trust. The sculpture is made of bronze and stands two feet high on a brick plinth. It presents a figurative, though abstracted, depiction of a man shearing a sheep, rendered in a small scale. This early work, created while Brown was still a student, showcases his ability to convey compression and concentrated energy, characteristic of his small-scale pieces. The rural theme and traditional craftsmanship of the sculpture are well-suited to its location on the edge of a New Town, reflecting the countryside, much like his later work, the 'Meat Porters' in Market Square, Harlow, represents urban life. The Harlow Arts Trust, established in 1953, aims to promote art in the New Town and has an impressive collection that supports emerging artists.