Notebooks belonging to Castleford sculptor, Henry Moore, will go on show for the first time as part of a celebration

It was while at the Leeds School of Art, now which is now Leeds Arts University, Moore studied a sculpture course.

Henry Moore Foundation Archivist Errin Hussey says “It is fascinating to see how Moore started his career in sculpture here in Leeds.

“While examining the notebooks, I’ve been so aware that from here he went on to develop his own distinctive style and now inspires the students of today.”

Moore was born in Castleford in 1898, one of eight children.

It wasn't until his time at Castleford Secondary School that his talents for art were recognised.

His very first artistic influence came from his art teacher at Castleford Secondary School, Alice Gostick.

It was her passion for the arts that stimulated Moore’s pursuit for showcasing his art outside of his school work.

After learning about successful sculptors across the world, Moore began crafting with a range of materials like wood and modeling clay.

Following World War One the artist received an ex-serviceman’s grant which enabled him to enrol at Leeds School of Art, which is now Leeds Arts University.

In September 1920, he started a year-long sculpture course at Leeds School of Art where a sculpture department was set up with Moore as the sole student.

The art school appointed a new sculpture teacher Raymond Cotterill, primarily to teach Moore.

The results of this one-to-one tuition can be seen in his notebooks at the Henry Moore Institute, which have been uncovered for this landmark anniversary.

Professor Sheila Gaffney, who teaches sculpture at Leeds Arts University today, said: “Moore’s fascinating notebooks highlight how different the teaching of sculpture was in the 1920s compared to the present day.

“A focus on highly specialised craft skills and methods, alongside learning of a singular agreed history, has been replaced by asking questions about the act of sculpting within a social and geographical contemporary context.

“Sculpture is taught as a possible outcome for an idea rather than about acquiring prescribed knowledge and skills.

“Moore’s practice of recording his personal thoughts in the notebooks, which might be described as holding scraps of the artist’s unconscious, also reveals an important similarity with today’s students.

“They are encouraged to capture daily thoughts, observations and ideas in order to develop a set of building blocks that become the sculptor’s lexicon.”

The notebooks are housed in the Archive of Sculptors’ Papers at the Henry Moore Institute, managed by Leeds Museums and Galleries and will be on display in the Henry Moore Institute’s Research Library from Tuesday October 13 to Friday December 18.