Butterfly sculpture commissioned by The Royal Horticultural Society
In August 2019, I was commissioned by The Royal Horticultural Society to create a sculpture to feature in the 'RHS Back to Nature Garden' at Wisley in Surrey. The garden was co-designed by Catherine, Princess of Wales, and featured at the Chelsea Flower Show and Hampton Court Flower Festival.
As part of the project, the Princess collaborated with Blue Peter to run a competition for viewers to design a wood sculpture to be installed in the children's play area within Wisley.
I was commissioned to interpret, make and install the winning design - a large butterfly-inspired shape - along with a bespoke metal worker who made the metal wings.
On a tight schedule, I sourced a large 'green' cedar tree which had been felled the year before in Blackheath to be delivered and safely installed at Blackhorse Workshop to carve the sculpture.
The winning design had been hand drawn, so I first made a clay model to help visualise the sculpture in the round. I then drew the shape onto the two-meter tall cedar and carved out the design. The spiral form and the texture of the sculpture was hand carved.
For the installation, I designed and inserted a metal plate and pin system at the base of the sculpture to secure it safely into a cement pit.
I organised the delivery of the butterfly sculpture and oversaw the installation process at the site.
