Hepworth's centenary is being marked during the year by both national and international exhibitions and it is fitting that her birth should be marked in her home city.

The commemorative year starts on January 10th, the anniversary of Hepworth's birth, with a service of Festal Evensong at Wakefield Cathedral. Hepworth once said: "Wakefield Cathedral, where I was confirmed, played a large part in my early life."

All my early memories are of forms and shapes and textures. Moving through and over the West Riding landscape with my father in his car, the hills were sculptures, the roads defined the form.

Barbara Hepworth

The hour-long service which includes readings and music has been organised by Wakefield Cathedral, Wakefield Council and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

A new choral work The Present Moment is the Only Real Time, composed by Nigel Morgan which uses words from Hepworth's own writings, is being premiered at the service. The sculpture Mother and Child, part of the Wakefield Art Gallery Collection, will be on display in the cathedral.

A major exhibition featuring the largest open-air display of Hepworth's sculptures will run thoughout the summer at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park where marble carvings and small-scale bronzes will also be on show in the galleries.

Wakefield Art Gallery, which holds a significant collection of Hepworth's work, will also have an exhibition of polished bronzes together with items from its permanent collection.

Barbara Hepworth is best known for flowing and rhythmic sculptures created from wood, marble and bronze, often influenced by the shapes and contours of the natural world.

Her father, the Assistant County Surveyor, would often take her on car rides through the Pennines. She refelcted: "All my early memories are of forms and shapes and textures. Moving through and over the West Riding landscape with my father in his car, the hills were sculptures, the roads defined the form."

Her talents were fostered during her time at Wakefield Girls' High School and in 1920 she went on to Leeds School of Art where she met Henry Moore, a student from Castleford. Together they moved to London where they became defining influences on modern sculpture.

Hepworth's work and reputation used to be overshadowed by that of Moore, and of the artist Ben Nicholson who she married in 1938. It is even possible that the use of the hole in sculpture which is so characteristic of Henry Moore was first used by Hepworth.

During the Second World War Hepworth moved to St Ives in Cornwall where she set up a studio. She died there in a fire in May, 1975 and her home is now part of the Tate Gallery (St Ives).

It is intended that the proposed Gallery on Wakefield's Waterfront will provide a permanent memorial to its most famous sculptor.

Friday's special Evensong service at Wakefield Cathedral is open to everyone and starts at 6.30pm.

CENTENARY EXHIBITIONS: