A fantastic sculpture that pays homage to the hundreds of ‘forgotten’ Wearside women shipyard workers is now open to the public…

The 6 foot tall corten steel artwork was commissioned by the Sunderland Soroptomists and lovingly created by local born artist, Ron Lawson who is also a senior lecturer at the University.

Ron said:
“I’m very proud of my Sunderland heritage, and I feel really connected to the subject and the place. The metalwork skills I’m using to make the sculpture were honed when I was an apprentice sheet metal worker at the North Dock, just a few hundred yards away from where she will be standing.”
“The sculpture is a life-size representation of a female welder wearing the personal protective equipment of the period, and she herself is made from forged and welded steel, which is rather appropriate.”

For many years our Wearside women played a vital part in the wartime efforts, building crafts of varying sizes as the men played their part fighting in World War Two.
Life-size creation, ‘Molly’ took around 25 weeks to create and now stands proudly next to the National Glass Centre on riverside walkway at St Peter’s, directly opposite the Port of Sunderland, where some of vessels built sailed into battle from.
If you would like this or a similar print, please message me via our Facebook Page
I can also create something specifically to your taste.