Marie Gilhooley

Hand carved original designs in sandstone. Born in Hull, Sculptor Maria Gilhooley works from her studio in Robin Hood’s Bay, from where she draws her inspiration and basic working material, sandstone. Her formal training as a Graphic Designer is an advantage when considering a new design, influencing the precise balance of shape and direction which she carves into her sandstone pieces, although the stones themselves can suggest images with individual markings and contours.

Exhibitions:

1996: Clayton Gallery - Newcastle
Cleveland Craft Centre - Middlesborough
1997: Ferens Winter Exhibition - Hull
1998: Pannett Art Gallery - Whitby
Sewerby Hall - Bridlington
1999: Huddersfield Art Gallery

Commissions:

Amongst others, work includes a 4ft sculpture for the Marie Curie Centre - Newcastle

“My first sculpture (a women, head in hand) was inspired by a shapely pebble found on the beach at Bay. I am drawn to rounded forms and find interlocking shapes very interesting. Stone is a wonderfully tactile medium which can be constantly changed and cajoled into simple, pleasing structures.”