ORIGINAL WILDLIFE SCULPTURE
Based in the north of England, Andrew Kay is an award winning sculptor whose work can be seen throughout the world.
From his studio set in the wild hills of his native county of Cumbria, Andrew creates sculpture that attracts widespread acclaim; his work being commissioned by both public bodies and private collectors. Drawing from the natural world for inspiration, the life size sculptures capture the powerful anatomy and essence of wild beasts using deceptively simple form and structure.
Andrew graduated from Leeds with a BA Hons in design in 1992. He then toured Scandinavia extensively on a travel scholarship. From this experience he acquired a respect of the pure, clean design ethos that is so apparent in Scandinavian design. Following a period as a set designer for The Franz Kafka Theatre in Prague he returned to England and established a sculpture studio near Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria in 1994.
I first choose a subject that appeals to me, predominantly animals native to Britain.
Then, with the help of anatomical drawings and photographs, I work up some preliminary sketches. Once happy with the form and posture, this is drawn up full size on a wall in the workshop.
Normally starting from the feet up, I offer cut lengths of steel up to the drawing and the sculpture starts to take shape as each piece is welded together.
The works are normally made in ¾ inch square solid steel bar. Each piece is cut roughly to size and then is cold forged in a press until the right shape is created.
There can be eighty or more components to a sculpture, and each specific piece needs to correlate with the next.