Birthplace: Harich, Netherlands

Current home base: Key West, Florida

Website: https://www.justsandandwater.com/

Marianne van den Broek grew up in the Netherlands and has been involved in the world of sand sculpting since 1999. She started competing in the US in 2002 and moved full time to Key West in 2005.

In addition to being the artist in residence for the Casa Marina, a Waldorf Astoria resort, since 2011 she is a part time educator, licensed boat captain, serves on the Public Art Board and works as a master framer at the Art Warehouse in Key West.

Her motto is if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.