Angel studied in England at Exeter, the Cheltenham, and the Lambeth art schools, and at the Royal Academy. In England, he executed World War I memorials at Exeter (1923), Rotherham (1924), and Bridgewater (1924). He pursued his career as a sculptor in his native land until 1925 when he was brought to America to participate in the creation of sculptures for the Baptistry and the portal of the North Tower of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York. The project proving to be a lengthy one, Angel decided to settle permanently in the United States, and became an American citizen in 1936.
As his surname would seem to have predestined, Angel specialized in sculpture for church exteriors as well as interiors. His work for St. John's included a large relief panel, Christ Before Pilate as well as statues of Thomas Becket, Joan of Arc, and St. Stephen. At St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, he created a marble full-length of St. Patrick and statuary for the baldachino in 1941. He was also responsible for the modeling of the six bronze figures on the main doors of the cathedral, several of which depict the distinctly American elect of the Church such as Mothers Cabrini and Seton. These were installed in 1949.
