Mary Van Dyke

Mary Van Dyke was born into an archaeological family and privileged to work with her father, Sinclair Hood, for many years drawing pottery from excavations and helping him record the masons’ marks in the Palace of Knossos, Crete. Mary synthesises research from family archives, scrapbook clippings, conversations and her own journals to recreate vivid scenes and characters from her childhood.

Prior to Cretan Chronicle, Mary published illustrated poems and produced environmental education programmes for schools. She studied architecture at Bristol University, Oxford Polytechnic and University College, London (PhD). Her designs include patchworks and videos about plants, clothes and tin-pan alley music that engage audiences with outdoor beauty.