Nicholas Lees is a British sculptor and ceramic artist whose work explores abstraction through refined form and surface. Born in 1967, he studied English and History at the University of Kent before completing a BA in Ceramics at Bristol Polytechnic, an MA at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff, and an MPhil by project at the Royal College of Art.
His practice investigates structure, light, and line, often pushing the boundaries between vessel and sculpture.
Lees has received numerous international awards, including the Honour Award at the ICAA Blanc de Chine in Lyon, the Cersaie Prize at the Faenza Biennale, and the National Sculpture Award from the Bluecoat Display Centre. His work is held in major public collections such as the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Fitzwilliam Museum, the Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche in Faenza, and the Auckland Museum, among others.
He has exhibited widely in the UK and internationally, with solo and group exhibitions at institutions, galleries, and art fairs across Europe, the United States, and Asia. Alongside his studio practice, Lees has held significant teaching positions, including Associate Lecturer roles at the Royal College of Art and UCA Farnham. His work has been featured in leading publications including Ceramic Review and international ceramics journals.
