I made series of sculptures from recycled materials in 2011, representing The Queens Beasts. The Queens Beasts were originally commissioned by the then ‘Department of Works’ and were made by James Woodford RA to line the entrance of Westminster Abbey for the Queen’s coronation in 1952.

They were later re-made in Portland Stone, and they now stand outside the Palm House in Kew Gardens.

I wanted to give them a different expression, so I created them mainly using recycled drinks cans, which I sliced up and threaded through wire mesh on steel rod frames. I also used other materials from the recycling yard in Cambridge, including old copper boilers, old hub caps etc..

With support from one of the world’s largest drinks can manufacturers - Bell Packaging, the beasts did a tour of the country during Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee year - 2012. The tour started at Valentines Mansion in Ilford where I had the great honour of being presented to Her Majesty.

In parallel, a wonderful book was written by Sophie Bristow and illustrated by Sophie Glover which is based on the story behind the beasts. It is a wonderful story and as available from the shop on this website.