Reginald Cotterell Butler was an English sculptor, born April 28, 1913, in Buntingford, England. He studied and lectured at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London from 1937 to 1939. He was a conscientious objector during the Second World War. He was exempted from military service on the condition that he set up a small blacksmith business for repairing farm implements. After winning the 'Unknown Political Prisoner' competition in 1953 he became one of the best known sculptors during the 1950s and 1960s, and also taught at the Slade School of Art.

Butler's later work is sometimes derided and consists of lifelike models of female figures, such as Girl on a Round Base, that have something in common with Hans Bellmer and the sculpture of Allen Jones and prefigure the work of Ron Mueck.

Today many of his works are held by the Museum of Modern Art in New York and Tate Gallery in London.