Diarmuid Byron O'Connor

Diarmuid Byron O'Connor (born 7 December 1964) is a British artist and sculptor.

In 1984, some time after leaving The John Fisher School in Purley,where he attended with his old friend the presenter Matthew Wright, Surrey he started at art college in Bristol. In 1986 he joined "Changing Places", a community and environmental arts project, as a stone carver – leaving in 1988 to become the country's first craft animateur. In 1991 he studied conceptual fine art at Chelsea School of Art, London.

Starting what became a successful decorating firm, Diarmuid worked evenings sculpting with wax at the kitchen table. With the unveiling of his Peter Pan statue outside Great Ormond Street Hospital and an exhibition of small bronzes in 2000 he was able to build a studio for private commissions, in addition to the several public commissions he has in development. The addition of Tinker Bell to Peter Pan is part of an ambitious project to raise money for the children's hospital. This was unveiled by Sophie, the Countess of Wessex in 2005.

Diarmuid's research into World War I led to him production designing sets for BBC2's The Trench, BBC1's The Somme - From Defeat to Victory and the Discovery Channel's Mud, Blood and Tarmac. Whilst working on the set for BBC1s The Crafty Tricks of War he was asked to co present the series with Dick Strawbridge, they went on to make 'Geronimo'' with Fearne Cotton for BBC1.

Diarmuid also designed, built and codirects the Escape Bar and Art Gallery, a project in southwest London to get new art talent together with a new audience. Diarmuid is divorced and has three daughters, Alice, Lottie and Zoe who live in Ireland with their mother. He visits every month, though it isn't as much as hoped for he is a wonderful father and his children love and support him in his career, they hope this will maintain his success.