Biography
Sheena Devitt is an award winning visual artist and stone sculptor. She studied at Edinburgh College of Art from 1985- 1989 and now lives and works in Co Down, Northern Ireland.
She has exhibited her work in a solo exhibition at Down County Museum (2017) and recent group exhibitions include Sculpture in Context, Dublin (2023), an installation for Wells Art Contemporary (2023) and The Royal Hibernian Academy Summer Show, Dublin (2022).
Works are held in public and private collections in the UK and Ireland.
In 2023 Sheena was elected as a member of The Royal Society of Sculptors.
See CV below.
Statement
I make hand carved stone sculptures with a quiet, contemplative quality, drawing inspiration from the natural world and Ireland’s architectural heritage.
It’s a slow, meditative process, listening to the rhythm of shaping this ancient material.
Working with translucent marble introduces a kinetic element to my sculptures, as the play of natural light and shadow is reflected in the material.
CV
Education
2003-2006 The Memorial Arts Charity, Mid Wales, apprenticeship in hand drawn lettering carved in stone, funded by The Jerwood Foundation
1992-1993 Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, PGCE in Art and Design, Secondary and supplementary qualification as Primary Art Specialist
1985-1989 Edinburgh College of Art, BA Honours Drawing and painting 2:1
Exhibitions
Solo
2017 The Architecture of Light, Down County Museum, N Ireland
Group (selected)
2024 Material Truths, The Old Post Office, Scarborough, members exhibition, The Royal Society of Sculptors
2023 Sculpture in Context, The National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, Dublin
2023 Wells Art Contemporary, site specific installation for Wells Cathedral
2022 The Royal Hibernian Academy Summer Show, Dublin
2021 The Nereids, Trinity House, London
2021 On a Knife Edge, The Lettering Arts Centre, Sussex
2018 Film Makers, NI Screen, Digital Archive Project, nerve.centre, Derry 2017 Film Makers,The Braid, Co Antrim
2016 Film Makers, RSpace, Co Antrim
2016 FoRM, Bangor Walled Garden, Co Down
2015 Innovation Boost, Bangor Heritage Centre, Co Down
2014 Masters and Apprentices, The Transfer of Passion, LAT, Sussex
2013 The Cutting Edge, The Bleddfa Centre, Herefordshire 2012 Walls of
2012 Walls of Stone, Auchindrain Museum, Argyll
2011 Unite, Collins Gallery, Glasgow
2011 Earth, Fire, Air and Water, Kilmartin House Museum, Argyll
2010 Cutting Words, Gallery No 10, Edinburgh
2009 Price Tower Arts Centre, Oklahoma, USA
2009 Art and Memory, West Dean College, Sussex
Projects
2017 The Architecture of Light. Lead artist in partnership with Down County Museum and pupils/staff of Holy Family PS, Teconnaught. Principle funder Arts Council Northern Ireland
2012 The Blue Dot. Pop up venues, Mid Argyll. One of four lead artists, HeART of Argyll initiative. Principal funder, Creative Scotland
2009 SlowCoast. Selected to take part in Nick Hand’s online soundslide project, featuring the work of artists and makers practicing around the coast of Britain
Commissions
2007 to the present Numerous site-specific memorials and sculptures for private clients in the UK
Collections
2022 Aerial Light purchased for The Irish state Government Collection
2010 Seed Shop selected for The National Collection of Memorial Art and is permanently sited at Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincolnshire
Publications/feature articles
2017 Review of The Architecture of Light exhibition by curator Marianne O’Kane Boal, Royal Society of Ulster Architects magazine, Perspective, Nov/Dec issue
2011 Masters of Craft, The Sunday Telegraph, Life Section, article by Nick Hand (slowcoast)
2010 Conversations on the Coast, Nick Hand, The Department of Small Works
2007 The Art of Letter Carving (gallery section), Tom Perkins
Awards
2023 Individual Artist Award, Arts Council, Northern Ireland
2023 Innovation Voucher, Invest Northern Ireland. Knowledge exchange with Researcher and Interaction Designer Marcus Notley, National College of Art and Design, Dublin.
2021 Individual Artist Emergency Resilience Programme Award, Arts Council, NI, for sustaining practice during Covid.
2018 Rosemary James Memorial Award, £15,000, for transformation of materials using innovative processes.
2018 Individual Artist Award, Arts Council Northern Ireland
2016 Individual Artist Award, Arts Council Northern Ireland
2015 Innovation Boost, Craft NI
2010 Hi Arts Makers Award, Creative Scotland