Mary Ellen was born in Murnberg, Germany and resided in several countries during her childhood. Since 1981, her focus has been on clay, primarily low-fired, brightly glazed hand built sculpture with ongoing experiments in primitive and raku firing, mosaics and mixed media work. Mary Ellen’s work is inspired by mythology, nature, and folk art and expresses inner visions and symbolic, archetypal images. She hopes to inspire the dreamer and artist in all of us
McNaughton earned her Bachelor of Philosophy at Thomas Jefferson College and her teachers certificate with an Art major and Biology Minor at Aquinas College. She also attended Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. She has participated in many solo and group exhibitions throughout Michigan and Illinois.