Steel crab on rock

This brown crab is made from mild steel; the body being constructed from an hour-glass shape 1mm thick sheet which is annealed and cold forged to allow the crab shape to form as the two halves are folded together and welded.

The legs are made from 6mm black mild steel rod which is hot forged and bent into random shapes which gives the crab a scurrying look.

The claws are formed using 1mm thickness tubing of 25mm diameter. This is cut using a pair of shears to form pockets which represent the joints and claws of the crab's defensive limbs. The eyes are stalks welded upon the top of the carapace that peep through the claws giving it a cheeky boxer's stance.

The brown crab has a patina created by allowing it to rust to give that velvet brown crab appearance.

Aluminium fish

Using 1mm sheet aluminium, each fish in this series was individually created using sinking molds to form the body. The fins and tails are drawn and cut out by hand using a jewellery fretsaw. The indented pattern on the fins and tail are creatively produced using home-made texturising hammers with a loose creative set of hammer blows to give directional flow to the fins.

Each eye is realistically produced using a semi precious stone.

The pieces are then polished before wall hanging clips are attached to the rear.

Finally each fish gets its individual paint finish adding to its uniqueness. There are no two pieces from this series that are alike, ensuring that each is an original.

Steel lobster

Quite imposing in scale, this oversized crustacean at 1m in length is eye-catching and a conversation starter.
This particular lobster is made of mild steel and was polished prior to flame painting which gives it beautiful bluey, purple hues. It has a spray protective finish so that the lusture will not dim over time in an indoor setting. If placed outdoors, a different material such as stainless steel would be needed making it more resistant to weather conditions. However, the flame patination would not be quite as vibrant.

Detail of lobster tail

The detail of the lobster tail shows hammer patination and fire painting.

The first time this piece was put on exhibition a small child was overheard referring to it as "the rainbow lobster".

Steel whale tail

This 'flukish' creation was inspired by watching Humpback whales diving for food.

It is constructed from mild steel sheet textured with hammers and flame painted. As the tail sinks into it's base, you can see a ripple of water as the creature appears to dive into the blue abyss.

The ripple is created by adjusting the power settings and the argon gas to make a decorative weld that looks like disturbed water.

Ammonities

As a child I found fossils fascinating. The shape of these spiralling ammonities, reminicent of the fibonacci sequence, is seen in both nature and art as a thing of simplistic beauty.

I have recreated this form by using fold forming techniques in various types of metals.

Aluminium octopus

Large steel crab

Steel mussels on copper kelp

This nostalgic piece was designed to remind the viewer of that magical time as a child at the seaside exploring rock pools, lifting seaweed to see what would scurry and scuttle away.

These mussels are made by hot forging steel into a pre-made wire former allowing a left and right half to be created. Welded together and then heated several times, they are then polished to give a hematite finish on their surface. Set on top of copper formed with punches to look like bladderwort seaweed and melted with a TIG welder to give a loose, bobbly appearance. The copper is oxidised by spraying it with aestic acid mixed with sodium chloride which gives the copper an interesting verdigris.

Incidentally, these chemicals are also known as salt and vinegar which is often put on mussels before enjoying them in a different manner!