Mary G. (Mary Galway) Houston

Born in Coleraine, County Londonderry, on 27 July 1871, she trained at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art and later at the Royal College of Art in South Kensington, London. Early in her career she exhibited drawings, lace and crochet designs, leatherwork, and repoussé metalwork, quickly building a reputation for working confidently across several decorative arts.

She became especially well known for leatherwork and metal design, exhibiting with the English Arts and Crafts Society and at the Royal Academy. Her work ranged from richly modelled bookbindings to silver and copper pieces, and she also drew on Irish myth and Celtic design traditions in later work.

Alongside her studio career, she taught at Camberwell School of Art and wrote books on historical costume, including studies of ancient and medieval dress. Those publications helped make her name familiar not only as a maker, but also as a practical guide to costume history and design.