Rowan Gillespie (b. 1953)

The artist writes; 'Adam and Eve was probably the best sculpture I had made at that stage in my career. It was a time when things were at last looking possible for me. I had been offered a show in New York and my hopes were high, particularly when Vincent Ferguson, on seeing the show before it was shipped, placed an order on the main piece - Adam and Eve.

The opening seemed a success and sales were reasonable, but on return to Dublin, when I hadn't heard from the gallery for two weeks, I tried to phone. They were gone without a trace - along with my whole exhibition. I was devasted and broke!

It was that one order of Adam and Eve to Vincent Ferguson that put food on the family table and helped me rebuild my career. I wonder if he ever knew. I remember so well, the whole family, dog and all driving to deliver it to Sligo and also many subsequent deliveries of sculpture to the Ferguson home, where the sun always seemed to shine and their generosity and hospitality made all things in life seem so possible and exciting'.

Rowan Gillespie, 2009.