Aged just 13, London-born Arnup was allowed to attend Kingston Art College and Camberwell School of Art. After later studying at the Royal College of Art (where her tutors included Frank Dobson and John Skeaping) she became a sculpture teacher at York Art School in 1957, then head of department from 1958-72. Her husband, painter and potter Mick Arnup, also taught there .
A bungalow in the village of Holtby near York was both family home and studio.
Arnup was renowned for her animal sculptures, two of which came for sale at Scarborough auction house David Duggleby (21% buyer’s premium) on September 17.
Estimated at £15,000-20,000 was Arab Horse Aslan (1985), a bronze, signed and number III/X, on stone plinth, measuring overall (1.8m high x 1.53m long x 60cm deep). It sold for £23,000.
Whippet Standing by Sally Arnup – £6400 at David Duggleby.
The other work, Whippet Standing, a bronze, signed and numbered VIII/X, on a short rectangular plinth, (63cm high x 49cm long x 23.5cm wide), took £6400 against a guide of £3000-5000.
From December 2019 to January 2020 Leyburn saleroom Tennants held an exhibition to showcase over 60 sculptures from Arnup’s estate ahead of being sold at auction.
