Mary Anstee-Parry MSDC

A lifetime of acquiring techniques and immersing herself in the history of carving has made Mary quite unusual in her field of sculpture as she uses her skills and the historical background of her subject matter as a vital basis to her work. She constantly expands her skill set by studying historical work and traditions eg she has carved replicas of panels and picture frames found in the Victoria & Albert Museum storehouse as a means of adding to her skill repertoire. Nowadays, sustainability is just as important to Mary’s creativity, encouraging her, on occasion, to reuse materials.

She also derives inspiration from following the teachings of influential letter carver and SDC member Tom Perkins, often combining her letter carving skills with sculpture. In addition to lettering commissions, she is committed to teaching and passing on her skills to others via workshops hosted in her studio. She works with hand tools, only using drawing (pencil and paper) as a springboard for her ideas.

After studying sculpture at the Norwich School of Art and Design in the late 1970's Mary Anstee-Parry went on to the City and Guilds of London Art School where she has since been made a notable alumni. Teaching traditional woodcarving and letter carving both at colleges and privately she has worked with public bodies such as Guildford Borough Council, a national nature reserve and St. Edmundsbury Cathedral. She is a member of both the Royal Society of Sculptors and of Suffolk Craft Society and with these societies has exhibited both locally and nationally. For the past three years she has worked exclusively on a series of coats of arms for a private client.