Mary Kenny

Artist statement.

On graduating from Bath academy in 1980, I worked in the stone trade for eight years, exhibiting my own stone sculptures. I took part in symposia in Portland and Hungary ,  where my largest  site-specific work remains, comprising  around 60 tonnes of stone.  Moving to  Scotland in 1988, I went to work in the theatre, and followed with celebratory and community based projects, this led to Artist - in -Residence in Midlothian in 1990. At the same time, working freelance in the public art and heritage industry, modelling bodies and heads for castles , museums and visitor centres with Edinburgh based ‘Chalkworks’. Since becoming a mother in 1997, and moving to the borders, I have taken up painting again, exhibiting regularly , and continue to develop my sculptural work, both small intimate pieces,  and  public commissions, such as the ‘Pirn Hill’ stone carvings, relating to 2000yrs of local history in Innerleithen, and ‘Dwellings’ created during residency at Wooplaw Woods, Lauder.

My work is mostly figurative, inspiration drawn from a deep love of humanity and humanness and the Earth. I like to use powerful stylized imagery, to evoke a sense of ‘being ‘ and ‘place’, and often with a narrative thread, which balances well with my work as a storyteller.

Selected c.v.:

Current 2007-2008: Invited Artist under AA2A scheme  at university of Cumbria , to do Bronze Casting

 public collections ,works in situ , and symposia:

2007: ‘The Clach’. Participant at stone sculpture symposium at Kelburn Castle , Largs.

2007’Dwellings’. made from willow coppiced during residency at Wooplaw Woods . Community participation element.

2007: ‘The Doo Well’  Painted mural commissioned by st. Ronans Wells Committee, Innerleithen. Featured on ‘ Beechgrove Gardens ’ t.v . garden programme.

2006+2002: ‘ Hyronymous   Peypes ’, joint commission with Kenneth McQueenie ,to paint mural on a  long boat afloat the Oxford canal. Commissioned by Dr. and Mrs Dyer .

2003: Pirn Drawings. Full size working cartoons housed at St. Ronans wells Interpretive Centre, Innerleithen

2000-2001:Pirn Hill , Innerleithen,Peeblesshire . Seven bass relief panels from Doddington sandstone. (104 x 84 x 6cm). Commissioned by Tweed Valley Interpretation Project.

1994: ‘Souvenir’. Gilded and carved 360million yr old sandstone from foundations of the National Museum of Scotland. Commissioned by National Museum of Scotland ,  Edinburgh .

1986-87: ‘Souvenir of Tomorrow’. Limestone( aprox 2.6m h, 10m diameter, 60 tonnes) Internal bass relief  carving gilded and waxed( aprox 7m). Created during two summers invitation to International Stone Sculpture Symposium, Baranyai Alkototelepek , Villanyi , Hungary .

1985: ‘Flying the Kite’,  Portland stone, (aprox 2.3m. H x 3.2m x 1.2m), Portland Sculpture Symposium, Isle of Portland , England .

1985: ‘Big Grinning Fish’, sandstone, (aprox 60x36x25cm). Atsitsa Centre, Island of Skyros , Greece .

Selection of organisations worked for, freelance, since 2002

Cumbria university, Borders Museum and Galleries,  Schools Service, National Museum of Scotland, Aberdeen Storytelling and Theatre Festival, Scottish International  Storytelling Festival, Victoria Park Centre, Borders Library Service, Children First, National Library of Scotland, City arts Centre, The Royal Highland Show, The Outsider Festival.

 mixed exhibitions since 2002

Old Gala House, Flat Cat gallery, Chapel st. Gallery , Chambers Institute, Teviot water Gardens, Thirlestane Castle, McHardys gallery, Penicuik Arts Centre,Coldstream Museum, The Wynd Gallery, Beltane Gallery.