Welcome to my needle felt bird Gallery

I have been making needle felt fibre birds for four years, as I write this.

My aim when I started was to sculpt birds from sustainable natural fibres that look like they could fly. My first needle felt bird was a squishy, precariously balanced Robin who was followed by a soft merino-wool-covered Blackbird of dubious shape (both in the gallery). I didn't have the needle felt skills back then to make them look like they could fly but, by making those birds, I unlocked a creative part of me that I never knew was there. Over the last four years I've made tiny miniature birds, life-size and larger-than-life bird art. I have also innovated new ways of using natural fibres to recreate individual flight feathers making my bird sculptures unique.

If you click on the images below, the gallery opens up and you can read more about each make, as well as seeing more detail on each bird. Some of the birds in the gallery are in my shop and available for purchase. Whilst other birds have flown to a new roost to be treasured for a life time, just a few are still being treasured by me, including my first robin and blackbird.

SHOP

A miniature needle felt wool bird Great Tit stands on tiny wire legs in sparkling wool snow, in a glass, hanging bell jar. All its blue, green, yellow wool feathers and wonderful black and white head are captured in minute detail.

What you might not know about my work...

I am never without ideas for a new project and work every day on my fibre birds.
I am constantly learning when I sculpt and don't consider I will ever stop experimenting in my makes.
I do not reproduce the sculptures you can see in my gallery - that would be impossible because every element is handmade and unique to that individual bird.
I sometimes make collections of birds - several sculptures with a similar theme - because I become fascinated by a specific breed. So, you might see more than one sculpture of the same type of bird but they are always different one to the other.
Many of the bigger lifesize bird sculptures are commissioned. This is a brilliant way for me to discover new birds and expand my skills. Every commission offers the opportunity to strive for something new and innovative, and I will particularly embrace any challenging subjects, large or small.
Every year I design and plan at least one piece which I think of as bird 'artwork' to display in a gallery or at a specific event. Typically inspired by work of artists past, famous birds from folklore, film or books and often bringing my love of history and folklore into the composition. This is another avenue for experiement, discovery and innovation that makes me very happy indeed.