Sculptor and teacher who trained as an architect. Born at Buntingford, Hertfordshire, Butler became an associate of RIBA in 1937, practising between 1936–50 as Cottrell Butler. Lectured for a time at the Architectural Association School, then worked as technical editor of The Architect’s Journal in the late 1940s. In 1941–5 Butler had worked as a blacksmith in Sussex. He started to become a sculptor in 1947, in that year joining Henry Moore as an assistant. His first one-man show was at the Hanover Gallery, London, two years later. The early 1950s were years of sharp advance in Butler’s career. In 1950 he began teaching at the Slade School and became Gregory Fellow at Leeds University, two years later being represented at the Venice Biennale.