Rory Young

Rory Young (1954-2023) was born in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, to Jill (nee Innocent) and Peter Young, who farmed at College Farm, Cirencester where Rory spent his formative years. Although renowned for his work with stone, Rory’s initial training was in fine art: a foundation at Cheltenham and a degree at Camberwell, graduating in 1976. 

The 1977 sketch books and diaries for his year studying regional building styles and techniques are now held at Gloucestershire Archives. His paper archive and sculpture studio contents have been recognised as being of outstanding quality by Arts Council England and are deemed a Gift to the Nation. 

Rory was a talented sculptor and letter-carver, as well as a painter, designer, consultant and lecturer. His sculpture and lettering have achieved national eminence, notably, a new ‘Genesis Cycle’ for The Great West Door, York Minster (1998) and the Seven Martyrs Statues, St Albans Cathedral (2015).

As a passionate conservator of historic buildings, he had an immense gift for inspiring others; he was a natural teacher, vivid and compelling. Over the years Rory welcomed many S.P.A.B Fellows and Scholars to his Cirencester home, where he shared his wisdom on the careful repair of traditional buildings. 

Rory’s outlook was profoundly influenced by his earliest understanding of drawing, composition and colour. His work was imbued with a positivity impressed on him at an early age, by Jill.