A Kapiti Coast artist who sexually abused two young girls - one whom he shackled in his studio - has been jailed for more than five years.

Brendan Nolan, 55, of Paekakariki, who earlier admitted sexually abusing the girls between 1999 and 2001, was sentenced to five years and three months' imprisonment at Wellington District Court on Tuesday, Fairfax reported.

He was convicted on two counts of sexual violation, two of indecent assault and one of inducing an indecent act.

His first victim was abused when she stayed overnight with Nolan over a two-month period.

The other girl had been subjected to degrading acts while suspended from shackles attached to a metal chandelier at his workshop.

The court heard how the second victim had difficulty sleeping and could barely eat following the abuse.

"This man stole something from me, something I can't put into words, but I know I'll never get it back," she said in her victim impact statement.

Nolan is known on the Kapiti Coast for his metal artworks. He fashioned the two-metre high gates at Paekakariki School and a five-metre high metal tui which sits at the entrance to Paraparaumu Beach.