A Seattle, Washington-based sculptor, stonemason, entrepreneur, and scholar of stonework world-wide, Richard Rhodes apprenticed as a stonemason in Siena, Italy after graduate studies at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. As the first non-Italian admitted into Siena's ancient masonic guild in 726 years (operative branch of the Freemason's, heirs to the cathedral builders of Europe), he is known throughout the sculpture and stone community as the "last apprentice." Though now branching into other media such as cast bronze, Rhodes credits his guild training as the major influence in his sculptural practice.