10 July 2017

A life size bronze sculpture of an Irish Wolfhound by late York artist Sally Arnup has been posthumously gifted to York Art Gallery.

The sculpture, which is on show sitting on a rug in the Burton Gallery, has been coated in wax to allow visitors to touch it.

The gift’s unveiling coincides with the final exhibition of the works of Sally and Mick Arnup behing held at The Studios in Holtby, near York, from July 8-16.

Sally died in December 2015, leaving an impressive legacy of work.

Jennifer Alexander, curator of fine art at York Art Gallery, said:

“We would like to thank the Arnup Family for bequeathing this gift to York Art Gallery.

“Sally had a remarkable talent for creating life like sculptures of animals and became well known internationally for her work. We are sure that visitors of all ages will delight in seeing this wonderful artwork on show and be drawn towards it to feel how it was made.”

The sculpture will be the fourth artwork by Arnup in the gallery’s collection, but the first large scale work.

Sally Arnup was one of the world’s leading animal sculptors. She studied at Kingston and Camberwell schools of art and at the Royal College. She lived in Holtby, Yorkshire, for much of her adult life with her husband and family, all of whom were artists.

The Sally and Mick Arnup exhibition at The Studios, Panman Lane, Holtby, is open from 10am to 6pm.

For more details about the exhibition please visit www.sallyarnup.co.uk.