Mary’s Biography

Born in the Colonial Gold Coast in 1951, Mary witnessed, as a child,  the transition to independent Ghana before moving to the UK in 1962 because of her father’s work.

She had to deal with the culture shock of moving to 1960’s Britain, which was undergoing massive change in all aspects of life at a very formative age.

After A levels, she studied a Foundation in Fine Arts before heading to university, where she gained a degree in Social Sciences. This refined her interest and knowledge in political, psychological and economic aspects of society. Having qualified to teach, she travelled around the world, working and living in  Borneo, Norway and the Netherlands, where she had the opportunity to explore the cultural and artistic expression of many peoples. This increasingly excited her curiosity and awareness of her own cultural origins. Her current artistic endeavours reflect this Ghanaian heritage.

Having qualified to teach, she travelled around the world, working and living in  Borneo, Norway and the Netherlands, where she had the opportunity to see incredible works of Art in several countries and explore the cultural expression of many nationalities. This increased her curiosity and awareness of her own cultural origins. Her current artistic work reflects her Ghanaian heritage.

On returning to the UK and gaining an MSc in Psychodynamic Counselling, she headed the student support service at The Inns of Court  School of Law. She provided counselling and other support to give equal access to the profession for trainee lawyers. This focused her attention on inequality in society and how it affects life chances, a theme she is also exploring in her Artistic work. 

She has used her Art to help Charities working in areas she supports, such as Save the Children, Tommy’s, and Cancer Research, as well as the Africa Centre.

Mary has returned later in life to pursuing her Artistic practice after raising her family and a full working life in other areas.  

Her work draws together the threads of her dual heritage, passionate interest in social issues and her extensive life experience.