Ned Kelly

Ned Kelly, Australian outlaw and leader of the notorious Kelly Gang, stands at the corner where truth meets legend. An old theme recently awakened by reading the Peter Carey book, True history of the Kelly gang. Victim of harsh prejudice against Irish Catholics, Kelly's descent into a life of robbery was not admirable, only understandable. His handouts of money to fellow poor earned him a huge following and loyalty. To stand up to the superior firepower of the police, Kelly and his gang made themselves armour from ploughshares. He was betrayed and hanged after the siege of Glenrowan in 1878. He was only 25.

Deborah van der Beek has produced a series of sculptures inspired by Ned Kelly over the past few years.

Ned Kelly III: bronze 46cm high, 36cm long

Bush Angel: bronze 27cm high, 30cm long, 27cm wide. Shown at Flowers Central, Cork Street, London 2005-6

Glenrowan Outlaw: bronze

Bush Angel II: mixed media 63cm, 60cm long, 38cm wide