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Sculptor, hotelier, teacher, musician - John Sherlock was a multi-talented, genial dynamo

Sculptor John Sherlock. Picture by John Harrison
Sculptor John Sherlock. Picture by John Harrison Sculptor John Sherlock. Picture by John Harrison

HAD John Sherlock embarked on his career as a sculptor in his twenties rather than almost 50 years later, his name would likely now feature in lists of Ireland’s most celebrated artists.

As it is, he earned international recognition within just a few short years for his bronze busts of figures such as John Hume and Seamus Heaney and large-scale commissions in Ireland, Britain, France and the USA.

It was in keeping with a life in which it seemed that anything he turned his hand to was a success.

Fizzing with charm and creative energy, John had also been a teacher, hotelier and property developer as well as a qualified pilot, master mariner and accomplished musician.

John Hume at a final sitting in John Sherlock's Woodbank studio. Picture by Mike McCann
John Hume at a final sitting in John Sherlock's Woodbank studio. Picture by Mike McCann John Hume at a final sitting in John Sherlock's Woodbank studio. Picture by Mike McCann
John Sherlock with John Hume after a bronze of the former SDLP leader was unveiled at St Columb's College in Derry. Picture by John Harrison
John Sherlock with John Hume after a bronze of the former SDLP leader was unveiled at St Columb's College in Derry. Picture by John Harrison John Sherlock with John Hume after a bronze of the former SDLP leader was unveiled at St Columb's College in Derry. Picture by John Harrison

Born in Rosemount in Derry in 1933, he was the fourth child of May and Patrick Sherlock who instilled from an early age the importance of making use of all the gifts God gave them.

He was at St Columb’s College at the same time as Hume and Heaney and after studying art in Belfast and Liverpool, he taught alongside Heaney at St Thomas's secondary school and St Joseph’s teacher training college in west Belfast.

However, their paths diverged in the late 1960s when he made the first of several radical career changes, entering the hotel and property business with his brother-in-law David Magill.

With characteristic flair and bonhomie he helped build the reputation of the Chimney Corner Hotel in Co Antrim.

It was around this time, in 1970, that John also met his wife Rosemary, who was a tenant in one of his Belfast properties.

They married in 1976 and made their home in a large Georgian property in Whiteabbey among beautiful gardens opening out into Belfast Lough.

They had a son, Jonathan, and raised chickens and Golden Retrievers in what he would describe as a “joyous” childhood filled with laughter, music and sailing trips.

John with his wife Rosemary, son Jonathan and friend Mary Peters after he received his OBE
John with his wife Rosemary, son Jonathan and friend Mary Peters after he received his OBE John with his wife Rosemary, son Jonathan and friend Mary Peters after he received his OBE

In his own schooldays John had been an accomplished violinist and pianist, winning festivals with his sister Angela and performing duets together on BBC Radio.

He would now add classical guitar and the trombone as he encouraged Jonathan in his music and even taught in his school, with their ‘Woodbank’ home also host to many evenings of entertainment with the couple’s wide circle of friends.

John was in his late sixties when he performed his next handbrake turn and returned to his first love of art.

His first commission as a young student had been from the philanthropist Henry McIlhenny to make stags’ heads for the gates of Glenveagh Castle in Donegal.

Now, almost five decades later, he found himself engaged in projects as varied as busts of John Hume, David Trimble and Fr Denis Faul, to a huge memorial to the UDR in the centre of Lisburn, and a sculpture celebrating Harry Ferguson's historic first powered fight for the main Belfast-Dublin road.

John with his bust of David Trimble
John with his bust of David Trimble John with his bust of David Trimble
John Sherlock's bust of fellow St Columb's pupil Seamus Heaney
John Sherlock's bust of fellow St Columb's pupil Seamus Heaney John Sherlock's bust of fellow St Columb's pupil Seamus Heaney
Monsignor Denis Faul. Picture by Aaron McCracken/Harrison Photography
Monsignor Denis Faul. Picture by Aaron McCracken/Harrison Photography Monsignor Denis Faul. Picture by Aaron McCracken/Harrison Photography
In 1909 Harry Ferguson became the first person in Ireland or Britain to make and fly his own own plane. John Sherlock's sculpture stands on the A1 Belfast-Dublin road
In 1909 Harry Ferguson became the first person in Ireland or Britain to make and fly his own own plane. John Sherlock's sculpture stands on the A1 Belfast-Dublin road In 1909 Harry Ferguson became the first person in Ireland or Britain to make and fly his own own plane. John Sherlock's sculpture stands on the A1 Belfast-Dublin road

His first public work was a life-size bronze of the cardiologist Frank Pantridge which sits outside Lisburn's City Council's offices.

A fine sculpture of Dame Mary Peters at the Mary Peter Track in Belfast is also his work, and he was entrusted with restoration of the iconic Carson statute in front of Parliament Buildings.

John Sherlock with Dame Mary Peters
John Sherlock with Dame Mary Peters John Sherlock with Dame Mary Peters
John Sherlock working on the restoration of the statue of Lord Carson at Parliament Buildings, Stormont
John Sherlock working on the restoration of the statue of Lord Carson at Parliament Buildings, Stormont John Sherlock working on the restoration of the statue of Lord Carson at Parliament Buildings, Stormont

The UDR memorial, in Lisburn’s Market Square, took two years from the first maquette nd preparing the clay moulds to bronze casting and installation, and cost more than £200,000.

John Sherlock working on the UDR memorial which now stands in Lisburn city centre. Picture by John Harrison
John Sherlock working on the UDR memorial which now stands in Lisburn city centre. Picture by John Harrison John Sherlock working on the UDR memorial which now stands in Lisburn city centre. Picture by John Harrison

It’s heroic-scale (one-and-a-half times life-size) depiction of a Troubles-era road block caused some controversy, although few knew the main soldier figure was modelled in fact on actor George Clooney.

The UDA memorial stands in Market Square, Lisburn
The UDA memorial stands in Market Square, Lisburn The UDA memorial stands in Market Square, Lisburn

John also produced a remarkable bronze piece featuring 20 symbolic elements to celebrate the working partnership between the RUC and FBI, now displayed in Washington.

He worked 12-hour days in his studio at home before finally retiring to enjoy some well-earned rest with Rosemary, his last commission being for his local church, Star of the Sea in Whitehouse, for its 150th anniversary.

He was awarded an OBE in 2009 and elected a member of the Royal Ulster Academy.

Close friend Mike McCann, former honorary secretary of the academy and John's business advisor during his years as an artist, said he was simply a force of nature.

"He was a multi-talented, genial dynamo whose company was as enjoyable as his output was prodigious.

"From zero professional artistic work in the previous 40-plus years, John created a remarkably impressive portfolio in the next decade. No challenge was too much for his creative mind and technical skills.

"His work wasn’t widely known because his pieces were either private commissions or public sculpture, but his unique bronzes are powerful examples of classic realism."

In a tribute at his graveside in Co Donegal, his nieces also spoke of generosity of spirit.

“There is much to remember about John but perhaps it is his use of time and his patience that is most impressive - ask his help and he simply stayed until your problem was solved.

“Handsome, charming, gracious, eloquent, a modest and accomplished gentleman - John will be so badly missed by all of us.

“He has been an inspiration to this generation and will continue to be into the future.”

John Sherlock died at home on June 18. He is survived and sadly missed by his wife Rosemary, son Jonathan, brother Malachy and sisters Angela and Joan.