“Life-sized sculpture of a Woodcock. Captures the elusive bird in mid-flight with intricate, layered metal plumage and a bespoke branch base.”
The Eurasian Woodcock is a secretive woodland wader, heavily camouflaged and famous for its dramatic, zigzagging flight when startled. This sculpture captures the bird in a rare moment of suspended animation, wings fully spread and talons extended as it prepares to touch down on a woodland branch.
Crafted from stainless steel, this piece relies on extensive layering to replicate the bird's cryptic, heavily patterned plumage. I used hundreds of individually shaped steel plates to build up the volume of the breast and the broad, rounded wings necessary for its rapid take-offs. The bird's most defining feature—its long, straight bill used for probing the forest floor—acts as a sharp visual focal point against the wide span of the wings. Grounded by a highly textured steel branch adorned with a few smooth, forged leaves, the work is a dynamic tribute to one of our most elusive native species.
