Lynn Russell Chadwick was born in Surrey and he was educated at the Merchant Taylor’s School where he received training in watercolour and oil painting. He then started working as a trainee architectural draughtsman in 1933 which was followed by work with the architect Eugene C. Kaufman and the engineering firm of Rodney Thomas. He served in various roles during the Second World War until he was demobilised in 1944 and he returned to working with Rodney Thomas. Two years later, he moved to Gloucestershire with his family and he won a textile design competition to produce designs and furniture for Zika and Lida Ascher. Working as a freelance designer, he then began making mobile sculptures for exhibition stands.

In 1949, Chadwick showed a mobile sculpture at Gimpel Fils Gallery which was followed by his first exhibition of mobiles the following year. His mobiles were mainly constructed of slate and wood which was hung or supported on stands. In 1951 he was commissioned to produce three pieces for the Festival of Britain and in 1952 he took part in New Aspects of British Sculpture at the Venice Biennale. In 1953 he entered a more solid abstract piece at the Unknown Political Prisoner International Sculpture Competition and won a prize. He represented Britain at the Venice Biennale three years later and won the international sculpture prize which led to a tour around and commissions from, Britain, Europe and the United States. In 1960 he joined the Marlborough Gallery and throughout the following decade he exhibited there regularly. His work developed during the 1970s and 1980s when his subject matter focused on groups of sitting or reclining male and female figures.

Chadwick was appointed a CBE IN 1964. He died at his home in Gloucestershire in 2003, the same year that a retrospective exhibition of his work took place at the Tate Britain.