Mary Anstee-Parry MRSS

At Norwich School of Art and Design I gained a degree in fine art and then, a little later, I went to the City and Guilds of London Art school. Although I did not gain any formal qualification I learnt, under the tuition of Dick Onians, traditional woodcarving, letter carving and gilding and I have since been made a notable alumni.

Since then, I have pursuedmy interest in sculpture, enjoying commissions, both sculptural and lettering and have taught traditional woodcarving and letter carving in wood. Where sculpture is concerned I have worked primarily as a carver in wood and less frequently stone but am now experimenting with other materials including copper.

Of late I have been working on a series of barley twist figures clothed in costumes knitted from copper wire which have been influenced by the 1960's couture collection of Paco Rabanne "Twelve Unwearable Dresses" and the last sculpture "How do our Clothes define us?" will be part of an exhibition of that name. Discussions on this subject will, I hope, take place within schools.