Sunday 14th April 2013
Austin Thorp, Chairman of the Salisbury Group of Artists, writes:
Every year at our Summer Exhibition, the Salisbury Group of Artists (SGA) awards a trophy – affectionately known as ‘the chicken’ – to the artist whose picture is judged Best in Show.
The trophy, more properly known as The Edwin Young Trophy, is a small, delightful bronze sculpture of a chicken and her brood.
It was sculpted by Ann (or Anne) Singleton. Apart from that, we know very little about it.
I have been told that she grew up in Broad Chalke and studied at Goldsmith’s College, where her father was a lecturer, or alternatively, that he was in the services.
Ann allegedly had an exhibition in Salisbury Library in the 1950s (or the 1960s or 1970s!).
The Chicken was one piece that did not sell and she generously presented it to either Wiltshire Council or the Library or the SGA; thus we do not know how it came to be in our hands or who christened it the Edwin Young Trophy.
Apparently, Ann may later have gone to Italy, where she became a well known and successful sculptress of small animals and birds. I have not been able to authenticate any of these suggestions.
If anyone can tell me more about Ann Singleton, and shed any light on the provenance or history of this trophy I would be most grateful?