James Doran-Webb; driftwood sculptor

A pair of boxing hares

At the Chelsea Flower Show this week, my favourite creations were not plants, but these wonderful sculptures by the very talented James Doran-Webb. I loved these animals. Not only are they stunning and feel "alive", but they have a sustainable and generous heritage.  Each piece is meticulously crafted from driftwood sourced from the shorelines and riverbeds of the archipelago of islands that make up the Philippines. Locals help to gather the driftwood and the collecting venture provides much needed cash for some of the poorer fishing villages.

Two rutting stags



Rearing stallion

A swan taking flight

The Arabian

For more information:

http://www.jamesdoranwebb.com/

Magical spider webs

It's true that it always rains in my home town of Manchester. But I love going home when the rain seems to magically transform spider webs into lace-like adornments with sparkling crystals. So pretty!

 

 

Driftwood horses!

The sculptor Heather Jansch creates wonderful life-size horses created purely out of driftwood collected from the Devon coast. The hooves are recycled copper.

I think they're just stunning! They also remind me of the mechanical puppets used in the theatre production "Warhorse". Both are man-made but look incredibly real.

The foxy South Bank!

This giant urban fox sculpture is currently residing in front of the Hayward Gallery on the South Bank, overlooking Waterloo Bridge. It is made out of bales of hay to represent the blend of city and countryside in London.

"Lola, baby, come on!"

"Lola, baby" dawdling behind her master!

I often see this intimidating looking chap at lunch time on Exmouth market in Clerkenwell. He is a butch skinhead, with tattoos and usually wears sunglasses. He marches along with his 3 mini dogs in tow, who never seem to be in any rush and always seem to be more interested in what's going on behind them! It makes me smile to myself when I hear his booming voice gently calling out "Lola, baby, come on!"  

Looking for Eric?

I recently was in a garden famed for it's cheeky statues and water features -including  a water fall operated by remote control from the living room inside!

Leopold the elephant - only when you walk past
him does he start spouting water!

Pensive "Eric" - named so as he was in the
2009 film "Looking for Eric"

The owl and her babies

Didsbury wood sculptors, Tim & Andy Burgess, were commissioned by The Friends of Didsbury Park and Manchester City Council, to produce a carving. "The owl and her babies" is located at the Wilmslow Road entrance to the park and was a gorgeous surprise when I first saw it. It's truely delightful from what ever angle you view it from....  

All wood used by Andy is from trees that have been taken down as they are either dangerous, damaged or diseased and are locally sourced. This can result in a free standing log or a stump that is still in the ground. This carving has been created from a beautiful piece of oak that is still in the ground. 

Sleeping rabbit

Secret door

Magic toadstool

Door mouse

Trendy housing for Islington birds!



In front of georgian townhouses, a new modern housing development
 has been built for trendy birds living in Islington!