We are delighted to welcome acclaimed artist and environmental sculptor Diane Maclean to our gallery in Deal, Kent, for a special book launch and exhibition event on Saturday 28th February, from 2pm with a talk and presentation commencing at 2.30pm. This inspiring afternoon celebrates the launch of Diane's latest collaborative project - The Journey of an Environmental Sculptor, written by Rory O’Grady and published in 2025, offering visitors the chance to meet both the artist and the author behind this remarkable new book.
Diane Maclean has enjoyed a long and internationally respected career in the arts. She began her creative life as a portrait painter while living in South Africa, before making the decision at the age of forty to return to university and complete a Fine Arts degree. This pivotal moment led to her successful career as a sculptor, where she has become best known for her striking stainless steel and light sculptures. Over the past forty years, Diane has completed numerous public and private commissions and exhibited her work around the world, earning many accolades along the way. A small curated selection of her sculptures will be on display in the gallery during the event.
Author Rory O’Grady also brings a fascinating background to this collaboration. After a successful forty-year career as a civil engineer, working in locations including West Africa and Hong Kong, Rory turned his attention to writing. Now based in Canterbury for over 25 years, he specialises in biography and non-fiction, with four published books to his name and a fifth currently in progress.
Following Diane’s move to Canterbury in 2023, the pair connected through their shared interest in engineering, form, and structure, leading to the creation of The Journey of an Environmental Sculptor. The book documents Diane’s artistic evolution and showcases a wide range of her sculptural work from the past four decades, offering valuable insight into both her creative process and the environmental themes that underpin her practice.
This free event is ideal for art lovers, collectors, sculpture enthusiasts, and anyone interested in contemporary art in Kent, as well as those curious about environmental sculpture and creative journeys. Copies of The Journey of an Environmental Sculptor will be available to purchase at the exhibition, and guests will have the opportunity to meet both Diane Maclean and Rory O’Grady in person in a relaxed gallery setting.