An evening with Ship’s Figurehead Carver: Abbie Cooke

Abbie Cooke has had a rich and varied career. She has a degree in the History of Art and Design, among other qualifications. She went to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and became a Captain in the Territorial Army’s Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry. Early in her career she worked in marketing financial services to Moore Stephens, leading accountants in the shipping industry. It was here that she rediscovered her interest in maritime art and pursued her passion to become Britain’s only ship’s figurehead carver. This led to a position as artist-in-residence/ship’s carver onboard London’s battleship cruiser, HMS Belfast. She went on to launch her own international art agency business and became Britain’s largest supplier of artwork for Cunard’s prestigious Queen Mary 2.

Abbie has also enjoyed curating and organising art exhibitions, particularly promoting the work of highly talented disabled artists. In 2005 she co-founded Gig-Arts, a charity which helps aspiring artists with disABILITIES.