Background
Pope was born in 1920 and after his studies moved to Derbyshire to work as an engineer
Pope was born in 1920 and after his studies moved to Derbyshire to work as an engineer
Slade School of Fine Artist
He started at the Rolls Royce factory in Derby (the largest employer at that time in the city). He was at Rolls-Royce throughout the war as a tool maker, where the engines were built for the Spitfire aircraft. Pope learnt and gained experience in techniques such as welding and brazing which he exploited later for artistic reasons.
After the end of the war he went to London to study sculpture at the Slade School of Fine Art with Professor
F. McWilliam. Pope continued studying ceramics afterward at Woolwich Polytechnic with the ceramist Heber Matthews. Pope lived and worked as an artist in Melbourne, Derbyshire.
He was inspired by his love of the countryside, particularly the Derbyshire High Peak, the Derbyshire Dales, the Lake District and Snowdonia. The influence of rock formations can be seen in a number of his sculptures.