Born in London, England in 1963, Sonya studied art throughout high school before going on to complete a nursing degree. Seemingly satisfied with this safe career option, Sonya worked as a nurse for 6 years after completing her studies.

In 1986 Sonya took an extended break from nursing to travel, and eventually made her way to a popular tourist destination, Hamilton Island, Australia. There she met Foot Young, an American Sculptor. Entranced by the living nature of marble sculpture, Sonya decided to stay on an re-examine her earlier passion for art, now that such an exciting medium had presented itself.

For four years she worked and studied with Foot, learning the fundamentals of carving form in driftwood and marble, as well as learning mould making techniques. Sonya started exhibiting her work in the Hamilton Island Gallery the year she arrived. Since that inaugural moment, Sonya has now taken part in over 35 exhibitions and sold her work by commission to private collectors throughout Australia and the world

In 1990 Sonya moved to the Australian mainland to set up her own studio. In 1993 moved her studio to the alternative creative nucleus of Australia, Byron Bay where she is still based. In that time she has produced hundreds of works her inspiration coming from the natural beauty that surrounds Byron Bay, and from her extensive and continuing travels around the world.

Sonya has appeared as a guest lecturer at a variety of different TAFE and Adult Education courses around Australia, most recently she was a guest lecturer at Lismore TAFE, Lismore

Sonya's Studio

Works available to be seen at Sonya's studio by appointment, at

190 Goldcreek Road
North Arm QLD 4561
Australia

Phone 61 (07) 5447 9144 or 0417 612 978

Email: sonyamoranart@yahoo.com.au

Resume

2006 Selected for Florence Biennalle Show, Florence 2007
2006 Corporate Commission, PPS Hair Wear
2006 Francis Riley Gallery, Eumundi, Qld
2006 Coopers Beach Side Gallery, Noosa, Qld
2005 Marie Piradies Gallery, Brisbane, Qld
2005 Byron Fine Art Gallery, Byron Bay, NSW
2004 Beachside Gallery, Hasting Street, Noosa, Qld
2004 Design Works Gallery, Cooroy, Qld
2003 Gallery Collections, Gold Coast, Qld
2002 Maree Mizon Gallery, Paddington, Sydney
2002 Selected for Florence Biennalle Show, Florence 2003
2002 Gerry McEwan Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria
2002 Kirra Galleries, Southbank, Victoria
2002 Gannonhouse Galleries, The Rocks, Sydney
2001 Pan Art Show, Kingscliff, NSW
2001 Byron Fine Art Gallery, Byron Bay, NSW
2001 Foot’s Artworks, Key West, Florida, USA
2001 Barebones Artspace, Bangalow, NSW
2000 Soho Galleries, Mardi Gras Show, Wooloomooloo, Sydney
2000 Soho Galleries, Leichardt, Sydney
1999 Michael Commerford Gallery, Byron Bay, NSW
1999 Bruce Wattling Gallery, Gold Coast, Qld
1998 The Reef Gallery, Cairns, Qld
1998 Foot’s Artworks, Hamilton Island & Gold Coast, Qld
1998 White Patch Gallery, Bribie Island, Qld
1997 Thursday Plantation Sculpture Show
1997 Hasting Street Gallery, Noosa, Qld
1997 Schubert Gallery, Gold Coast, Qld
1997 Waldron Gallery, Byron Bay, NSW
1997 Cape Gallery, Byron Bay, NSW
1996 Grafton regional Gallery, Grafton, NSW
1995 Mullumbimby Art Gallery, Mullumbimby, NSW
1995 Schubert Gallery, Gold Coast, Qld
1994 Spiga Gallery, Sheraton Marina Mirage, Qld
1994 Coolangatta Gallery, Coolangatta, Qld
1993 North Coast Art Show, Byron Bay, NSW
1993 Bryon Regional Gallery, Byron Bay, NSW
1993 “The Big Space” Show, Byron Bay, NSW
1993 Montville Gallery, Montville Qld
1993 Gallery Gecko, Whitsundays, Qld
1992 The Wall Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1992 Lady Hawke Gallery, Glebe, NSW
1992 Hayman Island Gallery, Whitsundays, Qld
1991 Tabara Gallery, Sanctuary Cove, Qld
1991 Park Road Gallery, Brisbane, Qld
1991 Octoberfest Show, Whitsundays, Qld
1986 Foot’s Artworks, Hamilton Island, Qld
to 1990 Works also leased to Hamilton Island Enterprises

Artist Statement

“Creation is a prayer in motion”

Consciousness gifts its’ creativity through me,
thus that the story unfolds.
I listen in stillness to the stone as it chants and sings to my humbled soul.
Through these impermanent hands the sculpture shape shifts,
hence the carved stone sings dimensionally to you.
“in simplicity
see me
touch me
take me in
feel the fullness of my surrendered lines of beauty and Godliness”.