Mary Sewell is an artist and sculptor working from a former cutlery factory in Portland Works. Her work is figurative and is influenced by prehistoric figurines from around the world and ancient cultures.
“I have been here for quite a long time, more than 10 years. In that time, I have seen a lot of changes at Portland Works and moved to a different studio within the works, which is a bigger, brighter space. It is an old building, so it can be cold and has some leaks, but it’s very reasonably priced for artists and small businesses. When I came here, I moved from one former cutlery building to another, so I seem to be going around all the heritage factories in Sheffield!
“Old spaces inspire my art, even the sounds of them. The building is very rustic, with a lot of the brickwork showing, and I like being a part of that. There are so many textures and colours around the building, as well as sounds like hammering and sawing.
“I know all the people in the building, and we help each other out. There is a woodworker and a blacksmith here, who have helped me out with things I need to work. I have given the blacksmith clay, so we exchange materials and support each other. I used to go to the pottery at Harland Works and I use the cafe all the time. Everyone who goes there is very close and it does good food!
“I used to do other work as well, but now I am full time in my studio and have just got an Arts Council grant for a residency in Tamil Nadu in south east India in January. It’s a workshop residency and will be a bit of a learning experience using a type of wood-firing kiln. I will go through the process and exhibit work at the end. I’m looking into ways to bring my work back to the UK, and hope to hold a talk about my experiences when I come home.”
More info: https://marysewell.co.uk/
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