In celebration of their recent research into the properties of ductile iron, Coles Castings is proud to announce the inaugural Coles Castings Iron Prize.

The Coles Castings Iron Prize invites Members and Fellows of the Society to apply to have a new work professionally cast in iron at their specialist foundry in North Dorset.

The winner will be given the opportunity to collaborate with the foundry to realise a work using the lost wax process.

The prize seeks to promote excellence and material innovation in sculpture. Favoured for its profound physical presence and rich surface potential, iron provides a rare balance of industrial strength and refined detail.

Through the integration of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary artistic practice, Coles Castings seeks to champion iron as a compelling vehicle for fine art.

The winner will be notified in early June and production is scheduled to take place during the Summer of 2026, allowing the recipient to work closely with the Coles Castings team throughout the casting process.

Submission Specifications

• Medium: Cast Iron
• Dimensions: The proposed work must be limited to 300mm (h) x 300mm (w) x 300mm (d)
• Casting must take place during the Summer of 2026

Background: Ductile Innovations for the Modern Sculptor

Coles Castings is pleased to announce after much research and some trial and error that it is now able to offer a ductile iron in addition to its standard cast iron.

The project has led the team from Dorset to the deserts of Arizona, the West Coast and the industrial South of America to Edinburgh and Bristol!

The presentation will also discuss collaborating with Arizona State University as well as Mill Farm Engineering and West Dean College to test the microstructure of the material and to explore the best methods of heat treatment to produce this new alloy.

Coles Castings has offered cast iron as a material for artists for some years now.

The foundry has also had the pleasure of working with Society members such as Dilys Jackson MRSS, Gordon Munro MRSS, Melissa Murray MRSS, Rebecca Newnham FRSS and Simon Hitchens FRSS casting pieces in iron as part of their broader practices.

About Coles Castings

Coles Castings is a foundry in North Dorset run by Stephen Coles and Necole Schmitz and it  specialises in bespoke cast iron, bronze and aluminium for art, design and heritage projects.  

Coles Castings offer an extensive range of foundry processes including lost wax in ceramic shell, traditional sand moulding, silicon rubber mould making, metal finishing, and patination.

With our fine art background and decades of foundry experience, we are uniquely positioned to understand how the motivations of a creative process can work alongside the technical considerations necessary to produce works to a high specification.

Whether you are an experienced sculptor or new to the casting process, we will walk you through every step of the way to ensure you take away a product worth celebrating.

JUDGES

Stephen Coles is a sculptor and the founder of Coles Castings in Dorset. He holds an MFA in Sculpture from Alfred University, New York, where he also taught foundry practice.

His work focuses on the intersection of traditional casting methods and modern technical research, frequently collaborating with international institutions and members of the Royal Society of Sculptors on complex fine art and heritage projects.

Necole Schmitz is a sculptor and foundry specialist who co-founded Coles Castings following a Foundry Fellowship at Chelsea College of Art. An expert in material alchemy and sustainable casting, she is a tutor at West Dean College.

Her practice spans sculpture, installation, and performance, and she has exhibited her work widely across the UK and internationally.

Almuth Tebbenhoff  VPRSS was born in Germany in 1949, came to England in 1966 as a student exchange and stayed. She studied ceramics at Sir John Cass School of Art 1972-5, made pots and surreal clay sculpture. In 1981 Almuth set up a studio in Wandsworth and expanded her practice to include metal fabrication.

For a while she worked very minimalistic then developed her own style. Since 1980 Almuth has exhibited, lectured, tutored, experimented, developed and learnt to carve marble which is very grown up. Over four decades she made many sculptures which are in collections worldwide.

ENTRY FEE

This opportunity is free of charge.

ENTRY PROCESS

To complete this application, please provide the following:

• Up to five images of recent work
• A CV of no more than two pages long
• A statement telling us about your interest in this opportunity and what ideas you have for it

The closing deadline for applications is Tuesday 12 May 2026, 23.59 - please note we advise early submissions as we may not be able to assist with submission issues closer to the deadline due to the volume of submissions.

Unfortunately, due to the number of applications we receive, feedback will not be given at this stage. Notification of all results will be sent by email, week commencing 1 June 2026.

RULES & GUIDELINES

By submitting an application, the entrant promises that all of the information comprised in the application is correct.

The entrant also promises to comply with these rules and any other requirements specified by the Society (whether on its website or otherwise), and the Society reserves its right to exclude any entry which, in its opinion, does not comply.

All applications must be made using this online form. No hard copy applications will be accepted. Applications must be received by the closing date specified.

Any submissions must be lawful, it must not be offensive, obscene, racist, discriminating or otherwise objectionable and it must not contain
any form of advertising.

Entrants grant the Royal Society of Sculptors and Coles Caastings the unrestricted right (without royalty) to reproduce images of any work in connection with the opportunity, be it online, printed or otherwise disseminated.

The judges' decision is final. If the Royal Society of Sculptors is unable to contact any short-listed artist or winners via the email address supplied by the entrant, the shortlist position lapses and the Society reserves the right to select alternative winners.

ELIGIBILITY

Applications are welcomed from all Royal Society of Sculptors members and fellows. Please note you will be responsible for any international transport costs and customs administration and/or costs if incurred.

Please note that for your application to be accepted, your annual membership fee must be paid in full by the submission deadline, or an existing quarterly direct debit must be in place.