Step Into Wonderland - sculptor Mary-Ann Stevens brings a surreal tea party to Scarborough art gallery

The exhibition transforms the familiar Mad Hatter's Tea Party into an immersive world of larger-than-life papier-mâché characters, where humour, eccentricity and emotion collide.

Drawing inspiration from Carroll's original novel and Christopher Wheeldon's acclaimed 2011 production of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland for The Royal Ballet, Mary-Ann has created an imaginative cast of theatrical figures that are both playful and personal.

Working in papier-mâché, Mary-Ann hand-builds each sculpture from layers of newsprint and PVA glue before dressing them in vintage clothing, wigs and accessories sourced from local charity shops.

Every character develops its own distinct personality, transforming recycled materials into expressive works of art.

Although inspired by one of literature's best-loved stories, Time for Tea is far more than a recreation of Carroll's Wonderland, says Mary-Ann.

She has used the familiar characters to explore themes of identity, vulnerability, anxiety and emotional resilience.

Alice, the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts become reflections of different aspects of the artist's own inner world, blurring the boundaries between fantasy and lived experience.

"The characters aren't simply illustrations of the story," said Mary-Ann Stevens.

"They've become alter egos. Each one represents different emotions and parts of myself. Through making them I've found a way to explore anxiety, vulnerability, humour and joy.

"They're strange, theatrical and sometimes unsettling, but I hope they're also recognisable,” she said.

Mary-Ann moved to Scarborough five years ago after completing an MA in Fine Art at Chelsea College of Arts, University of the Arts London.

Working from her studio at the Old Parcels Office Artspace, Scarborough Railway Station, she has established herself as one of the town’s most distinctive emerging sculptors.

Her recent achievements include being selected as a finalist in the 2025 Scott Creative Arts Foundation Emerging Artist Award.

With its colourful cast of eccentric personalities, Time for Tea promises to delight lovers of contemporary art, literature and theatre alike.

The exhibition invites visitors of all ages to enter a world where time behaves strangely, logic gives way to imagination, and every character has a story waiting to be discovered.

Time for Tea by Mary-Ann Stevens can be seen at the Glass Box Gallery, St Helen's Square, Scarborough, from Friday July 31 to Sunday August 9.

The Glass Box is open from Friday to Sunday, daily from 11am to 3pm

Admission is free