Award winning painter and sculptor Tom Murphy is to be given Liverpool’s highest honour tomorrow (Friday 11 August).
In recognition of his iconic work which adorns areas of the city, along with his contribution to the arts scene, Tom will be added to the Roll of Citizen of Honour.
His work includes the iconic Bill Shankly memorial at Liverpool Football Club, the John Lennon statue located at John Lennon Airport, a tribute to the Blitz in the grounds of St Nicholas Church and the life-like re-creations of Bessie Braddock and Ken Dodd at Liverpool Lime Street Station.
Tom created the city centre Hillsborough memorial at Old Haymarket, the Liverpool Pals Memorial at Lime Street, the Liverpool VC Memorial and the Blitz memorial – all of which stand as poignant reminders of key moments in Liverpool’s history.
He also has a number of works on display throughout the UK and across the world including pieces in the private collections of HRH Queen Elizabeth, at the John Lennon Museum in Tokyo, at the Imperial War Museum in London and in Carmelite Monastery in Scotland.
Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Malcolm Kennedy, said: “Tom is an artist with a reputation for delivering works of the highest quality which are admired by residents and visitors alike.
“His work dominates a number of key gateways in and out of the city, with his sculptures renowned for their faithful likeness of the subject – not only capturing how they look, but also the spirit of that individual.
“I am delighted to be presenting Tom with the Citizen of Honour accolade for his incredible contribution to Liverpool’s cultural scene and for being a fantastic ambassador for the city.”
Tom said: “It’s a real honour to be recognised in this way. I’m fortunate to do something I love – for a city I love.
“It feels like a real appreciation of the work I’ve created for Liverpool, and I’m humbled and overwhelmed the city is presenting me with this accolade.”
The Citizen of Honour Awards were introduced in 2008 to formally recognise those individuals who have made a significant, exceptional or unique contribution to enriching the image of the city and/or its citizens. To date there are 28 Citizens of Honour including Bill Shankly, Liverpool World War Two veterans, April Ashley, film director David Yates, Dr David France and Lewis Biggs.
Some of Tom’s work to date:
Monumental Sculpture Commissions
Two 15 foot long raised bronze Frieze Panels to commemorate the Liverpool Pals, Lime Street Station
Hillsborough Monument.
Ken Dodd and Bessie Braddock, Lime Street Station
‘Road peace’ Traffic Memorial, St John’s Gardens, Liverpool.
Captain Noel Chavasse VC Memorial
John Lennon at Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Billy Fury, Museum of Liverpool Life Albert Dock
The Moores Brothers, Church Street
The Blitz Memorial, Liverpool Parish Church
Bill Shankly, Liverpool Football Club
‘Reach’ (Three monumental size figures) Liverpool Football Club Academy
Dixie Dean Everton FC
Captain F J Walker, Pier Head,
Henry Cotton, Henry Cotton Campus LJMU,
Sir John Moores, The Avril Roberts Centre
‘Courage within’ Life size bronze sculpture at south wood Bail Hostel, Aigburth
Mike Dixon (Olympic Biathlon Skier) Broadlands Properties, Inverness
Significant other works:
Captain Noel Chavasse Maquette, Commissioned by Trinity Collage Oxford University
Life-size portrait bronze busts commissions
Portrait Bust of Bill Shankly in reception area of Melwood Training ground
Rex Makin, Liverpool Lawyer
David Charters, Liverpool Journalist
Arthur Dooley, Liverpool Sculpture
William Gladstone Our Lady Stare of the sea Church in Seaforth.
Lady Diana The Women’s Hospital
Professor Toyne Former LJMU vice Chancellor (Bust presentation)
Julian Greibach Portrait bust of founder Rectella Ltd, Manchester
Sir Sidney Hamburger Bronze bust (Portrait relief on stone) founder the lighting company
Juliana Gibbons Bronze bust (actress) Hamburg Germany
John Lennon (life Size) Bronze busts for David Moores Liverpool Chairman
Bill Shankly (life size) Bronze bust for David Moores Liverpool Chairman
Mike Smith (Soldier killed in Afghanistan)
Andrew Jones, (Walton teenager murdered in Liverpool)
