I used to live in Wiltshire, and a few years ago I was walking along the Kennet & Avon canal when I came across three sows in a muddy field by the canal path. They were so characterful – I decided to come back the following day to photograph them.

Mrs Pig is the result of that process. I made a series of sketches – one of which is shown here, and then I made a plastiline wax model – which I hope captures something of their character.

Clearly there was a logic in making her in copper – but I first made her in acrylic to make sure I had got all the different parts correct. I love the way the copper version works – albeit it is challenging welding copper parts that are this small.

I did a collaboration with the wonderful London based butcher ‘The Ginger Pig’. First stop was their Barnes shop, run by Maxi. See photos here.