Mary Fleeson (maiden name Prior) was born in 1969 and grew up in a small market town in Shropshire, she has lived on Holy Island since 1997. Mary studied Foundation Art at Stafford College, specialising in textiles, and then gained an honours degree in Three-Dimensional Design from the University of Central England in Birmingham in 1992. About her work Mary thinks that her style originates from doodling in lessons at school, (not something she recommends as a way of succeeding in exams!) combined with opportunities during her education to experiment with many different types of media and techniques.
Together with her Christian faith, living on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne and being surrounded by it's natural beauty and visible history, is the greatest inspiration for Mary's work; a feeling of being part of a rich cycle of life which began in pre-history and encompasses extremes of peace and violence, poverty and prosperity. She also studies early manuscripts and ancient calligraphy from around the world to gain an insight into how calligraphy and illumination have enhanced works, both religious and secular, throughout the ages.
Music is also a wonderful inspiration for her art, particularly the work of David Fitzgerald, (co-founder of the band 'Iona') and Jeff Johnson, (an American Christian with a Celtic heart). Poetry and prose also play their part, both the experiece of writing and reading it, C. S. Lewis, Stephen Lawhead and Stephen Baxter are favourites.
Together with her Christian faith, living on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne and being surrounded by it's natural beauty and visible history, is the greatest inspiration for Mary's work; a feeling of being part of a rich cycle of life which began in pre-history and encompasses extremes of peace and violence, poverty and prosperity. She also studies early manuscripts and ancient calligraphy from around the world to gain an insight into how calligraphy and illumination have enhanced works, both religious and secular, throughout the ages.
Music is also a wonderful inspiration for her art, particularly the work of David Fitzgerald, (co-founder of the band 'Iona') and Jeff Johnson, (an American Christian with a Celtic heart). Poetry and prose also play their part, both the experiece of writing and reading it, C. S. Lewis, Stephen Lawhead and Stephen Baxter are favourites.
