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An example of the huge sculptures we have created. Standing 9 metres tall, this striking abstract face sculpture was designed and handcrafted by Charles Elliott using recycled plastic tubes. Created as a response to the national anxieties of 2018—amid Brexit uncertainties and pressing environmental issues such as global warming and plastic recycling—this powerful piece captures a moment of collective concern.
Until January 1st, 2018, the UK recycling industry sent 500,000 tons of plastic annually to China for processing. The sudden halt of this practice has posed significant challenges for the industry, which this sculpture seeks to highlight. This bold and thought-provoking work is currently on display at the studio.
Facing FearsA Monumental Work by British Sculptor Charles ElliottStanding at an imposing 9 metres high, Facing Fears is not only a bold visual statement — it is a powerful reflection of national and global anxieties. Conceived and handcrafted by renowned British sculptor Charles Elliott, this striking abstract face sculpture is constructed entirely from recycled plastic tubes, making it both a technical feat and a thought-provoking commentary on the state of our environment and society.
Created in 2018, Facing Fears emerged during a period of uncertainty and division in the UK. The sculpture was inspired by the nation’s collective unease surrounding Brexit — a moment marked by deep political tensions, identity struggles, and a reevaluation of Britain’s place in the world. Yet Elliott’s work reaches beyond politics. At its core, Facing Fears responds to the urgent environmental questions of our time, particularly the global crisis surrounding plastic pollution and waste management.
At the time of its creation, a significant environmental shift had just occurred. Until January 1st, 2018, the UK exported over 500,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually to China for recycling. That pipeline was abruptly closed, exposing the fragility of the UK’s waste management system and raising vital questions about responsibility, sustainability, and the future of recycling.
With domestic recycling infrastructure under pressure, Facing Fears challenges viewers to confront the consequences of overconsumption and the illusion of disposal — what we throw away doesn’t simply disappear. Elliott chose to work with discarded plastic tubing — a material often overlooked and underappreciated — to demonstrate the potential for transformation. What once served a mundane industrial purpose is reimagined here as art, as expression, and as warning.
The face, though abstract in form, is hauntingly familiar. It stares back at us, echoing our fears and prompting us to ask: What are we really afraid of? Change? Collapse? Responsibility?More than a sculpture, Facing Fears stands as a call to action — a towering reminder that through creativity, awareness, and sustainable practice, we can begin to address the challenges we face as a global community. Elliott’s work continues to inspire discussion, urging individuals, industries, and governments alike to look directly at the problems in front of us — and not turn away.
If you have any question regarding this product or any other sculpture on our website then feel free to get in touch with our team.
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Recycled Goods & Materials
Illumination Kits are not available for this sculpture.
We arrange worldwide delivery and installation, tailored to your location and the scale of the piece. Smaller sculptures are shipped using secure, tracked services; larger works are professionally crated and transported by expert art handlers or delivered in person by our team. Wherever you are, we bring sculpture to your world safely and seamlessly.
For clients across the UK and around the world, we offer a full professional installation service to ensure your sculpture is positioned exactly as intended. Whether the piece is destined for a private garden, a coastal estate, a city rooftop or a public art site overseas, our team can travel internationally to bring the final stage of the artwork to life.
To prepare an accurate installation quotation, please provide:
• Ground type – e.g. grass, soil, loose stone, hard standing, concrete pads or water
• Precise sculpture location – including any lifting, lowering or obstacles on site
• Access details – e.g. gates, stairs, steps, paths, driveway access, alleyways or fences
Our installation team will assess the site and requirements in detail, ensuring the correct foundations, fixings, lifting equipment and personnel are allocated. This allows us to deliver a seamless, safe and efficient installation experience anywhere in the world.
To receive your personalised international delivery and/or installation quote, please email the above details to: sales@charleselliottsculpture.co.uk
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Our sculptures are realised in bronze and steel, across a range of finishes and scales, with commission values typically ranging from £20,000 to £500,000+, shaped by scale, material and site considerations. Pricing guidance is available via the size and material options below, or by requesting a worldwide shipping quote. Collected internationally, each sculpture is created for a single client and setting — a personal work intended to bring character, warmth and a quiet smile to its surroundings, now and for generations to come.
Charles Elliott Sculpture is a contemporary studio creating sculptural works in bronze and steel for public, private, and architectural settings worldwide.
Based in England and led by sculptor Charles Elliott, the studio works with international collectors, landscape designers, developers, and public institutions, with commissioned sculptures placed across Europe and the United States.
Charles has presented work in distinguished cultural settings including Royal Ascot Racecourse and the Cheltenham Festival, and has received award recognition at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Each work is conceived as a lasting presence — shaped by material, scale, and an enduring relationship with place.
