When Dorothy Dick abandoned her three decades long career in engineering at the age of 55 in order to sculpt, it wasn’t a question of new beginnings, rather one of changing track.
While a maths and physics undergraduate at the University of Glasgow, she had already begun to explore her artistic talent by attending evening classes at Glasgow School of Art. While working with English Electric in Luton following graduation, she attended classes in ceramics at St Albans School of Art; and when her career brought her back to Glasgow in 1960 to work with SSEB (South of Scotland Electricity Board), she resumed her studies at GSA, this time working for five years with Paul Zunterstein who taught in the Sculpture and Ceramics department of Benno Schotz. For Dorothy the shift towards full-time sculpture had already begun when she decided in 1973 to work part-time first with Babcock & Wilcox, and later with Britoil. Earning her living as an electrical engineer gave her the freedom to pursue a talent which had long- since been recognised by her art mistress at Albert Road Academy (later Pollokshields Secondary School) in Glasgow; indeed she had been warned about the so-called deleterious effect of academic study on creative talent.
Dorothy Dick Sculpture is a 12 page folding publication, published by Hughson Gallery, outlining Dorothy's life and work. Photography by Sandy Fea Photography & Joan Hughson. Design by Bob Murray.