Charles Hilton was born in Melville Saskatchewan in 1937. From 1958 to 1963 he studied at the University of Manitoba, D.F.A. under Cecil Richards-sculpture, Ron Burkes-pottery, and Steve Repa-pottery. In 1963 he received the Kenneth Finkelstein Prize in Sculpture from the University of Manitoba. In 1967 Charles relocated to Alberta and worked for the railways. In 1969 he moved to Edmonton where he set up and opened his studio, Nicole Studio.From 1969 to 1971 Charles taught pottery and sculpture for the University of Alberta, Extension Department. Nicole studio operated into the 1980's.

Charles Hilton went on to become one of the more important working artists in Alberta during the 1970's and into the mid 1980's when changes in the economy and the Provincial Government changed support for the arts in the province. During this time he was commissioned to place several large sculptures around the city at the Provincial Museum, the Citadel Theatre, the Law Courts Building, and the Public Library. Iin 1974 Charles represented the Province at a promotional exhibition for the province in Sapporo Japan,and in 1976 he demonstrated in Montreal at the Olympic Arts and Culture Program.His work continues to be represented in a number of public collections in Alberta and in private collections in various countries. During his career he produced sculpture in marble, bronze, and ceramic.

In 1978 he made a tour to Europe to investigate foundries and talk to other sculptors working in bronze but returned disillusioned and questioning whether the unique and original or even the hand worker himself was becoming an anachronism in our society and if you had to be crazy to pursue art as a career."I've asked myself that question a thousand times".(from an interview done late in 1978 by Dorothy Barnhouse in Western Living Magazine, January 1979) .

He last exhibited in Edmonton in the mid 1980's

The four pieces in this private collection were all purchased by the owner directly from Mister Hilton.The pieces represent his early studio work. The bowl is especially interesting as it predates the stamp used on later pots and for the rare use of a coloured glaze. The "weed pot" is dated 1970 and appears to be a ceramic form he explored at length later, as an artist's statement from 1978 says he was making these forms which he intended to work by themselves as abstract forms as much as to be functional pieces.

All four pieces are in perfect condition.

Charles now resides in British Columbia.

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