Sculpture trail at the Jinney ring

I've just dropped of some of the larger pieces to the Jinney Ring  centre in the west midlands, and the look great!!
 The Jinney ring is a beautiful setting for this sculpture trail. It's in the west midlands near Bromsgrove, so if you are in the area drop by and have a look. Check out there website for more details: 
   www.jinneyring.co.uk/

 Big thanks to Carolyn and her team for all the hard work that went in to putting this together!

I've recreated the pheasants flying through the garden like i had on display at the Chelsea flower show a 3 years ago

This made me laugh, Hope it doesn't scare away the kids!!

I really liked the wire sculptures on display as well.

Hampton Court Palace flower show

 It's been a few shows since I've blogged so I'll start with Hampton court flower show... This is the show where it all started for me, so I have many fond memories of Hampton court, and those of you that know me from there will also know that it's not just the bronze sculpture i sell hear, but also the range of brass comical frogs and life size hares,otters and roe deer. 

I've been doing these brass sculptures for nearly 10 years now, and it's what has financed the bronze work that i've moved up into over the past 6 years or so.
 Whilst its been a joy  to do them and see the smiles and laughter that they bring, i've decided that this is the final year for the brass.
 The bronze has taken off really well and i now have a successful range and many galleries on board, so it was a fond farewell to the frogs and co at Hampton court.
 Typical that on my final year the BBC should want to film them for a little montage at the end of their Thursday night coverage of the show! by the time the customers come to have a look on Friday i'd sold out of most of them!! just my luck.

 So i'd like to say a massive thanks to all of you that have laughed, been photographed with, and purchased these sculptures, it's helped me hugely on my life's path to being a successful sculptor!
 Should also like to thank the RHS for putting on such a well organised and beautiful show year on year!

  Not sure if i'll be back next year with he bronze, as the show has changed a lot over the years and there is a lot of bought in product there now, and i have to say, companies selling brass sculpture as bronze!
 There is a big difference in both the metal and workmanship of the two, which very much reflects the price, so if you see these people selling large bronzes very cheap, chances are it's brass. Not that that's a problem,as i mentioned i've been selling brass for years with no complaints, but beware, if you are buying large sculpture in brass it does have a tendency to crack if the workmanship and alloy is of a poor quality!!

Craft and design experience,Henley

 A big thank you to all of you that came along to Henley last weekend.
 Shame the weather couldn't make up is mind, one moment bright sun the next pooring rain!
 Still, another successful show, so can't complain.
 I think the attendence figures were down on past years though, and i know times are really tough, but come on people, drag yourselves out and all your friends and support homegrown artists!!

Also at Henley, a first outing for my brother's new venture...."Flaming Mo's wood fired pizzas"...               mmmm!!!. well done Matt, gald it was such a sucess, actually sold out by the sunday.
 If anyone is thinking about throwing a party and would like there own chef cooking up delicious wood fired pizza to suit your tastes, give me a call 07815767738.
 As long as you can get a 1.5 meter wide trailer into your venue, you'll have great tasting pizza prepared fresh in front of you and your guests
 His website will be up and running soon.

Right, I'm off to set up for Hampton court Flower show, See you all there!

RHS Chelsea flower show 2012

Our stand at RHS Chelsea Flower show

Back for a second year, our stand at the Chelsea flower show was a great success!
I share the stand with fellow sculptor Bendan Hesmondhalgh and, due in no small part to our efforts last year, we were moved up into the main show square, right outside the huge floral marquee.

Thank you so much to all of you who came on our stand and spent some time with us, always nice to get positive feed back.

 As the weatherman told us the week before ( when we are already on site building the stand)  it was going to rain, rain, rain, we weren't exactly prepared with the scorcher of a week that was to follow!,  not exactly the norm for Chelsea week, but no complaints from us!

 I'm not sure the public realise just how difficult and tiring Chelsea flower show is, and what a momentous operation it is for the organisers,stewards,and traffic control, it really is a  precision operation, with 40 ton lorries, an army of heavy lifting vehicles and hundreds of smaller vehicles all crammed in and working in what is actually a very small park, they should make a documentary about it!

 Then comes show week.
 The show is open from 8am til 8pm every day , finding time to sneak off and eat lunch, and maybe grab a Pimm's or two, is not an easy thing to do!

I Would like to thank William Armitage of Armitage's nurseries for sponsoring the plants and his invaluable advice!
 I should also, give a mention to our neighbours on neighbouring trade stands, great to get to know you all and share in the laughs!

So here's a few photos images i managed to capture.... and a few famous faces.

How does Joan Collins always look the same age

Sir John hurt

A Good show , good show!

SIR CLIFF!!!

David Goode with his amazing goblins!

Long before the public arrive, the film crews are busy

the little watch man

 A Little owl as you so often see them... keeping an eye out for anything tasty that may stray it's way
 These and the Tawny owls are usually the ones making all the noise around dusk!
 Again i can make the base to fit your requirements. This one is on a silver birch post with oak base.

The red red robin...

 Everybody loves a robin!, I don't know why people only associate them with christmas, I think of them more in the spring, when you finally get out into the garden to dig the beds and start planting out for the summer ahead. there's usually a robin on hand to pick off the tiny insects you've disturbed.
 Far from shy, they usually sit a few feet away keeping a watchful eye.
 I'll be doing various bases for this anfd the nuthatch as i can position the feet in different ways.

Spiderman of the trees

 I love the way Nuthatches go about there business!, most birds hop around the branches, this one runs around the trunks, up and down chesing its food. really nice shades of blue and pale orange make for a nice patination.
 I's also the first time i've sculpted a wooden base which i really enjoyed, this one is oak, but I can do any shape of type of wood if you have any ideas for your piece.