Created in May 2025 this common swift Apus apus was inspired by an early morning fly- by seen in the summer before, when a squadron of swifts swooping down to my window at eye-level, flew in formation past the glass. They were taking almost invisible tiny flies that hovered near the brickwork and, in the still low early-morning sunlight, I could see every detail of their plumage and wings. It was a stunning sight that I really wanted to capture in a sculpture.
Made from a selection of wool breeds, including Corriedale and Romney Marsh, the swift is life-size and flat-backed to be displayed against a wall, though it appears to have two wings stretched backwards in flight. One wing is formed with a wire armature, creating a curved 3D presentation reaching out from the wall. The underwing aspect is depicted in stunning detail, each feather delineated and shadowed to mimic the sight I saw at my window that summer.
The face is in profile, again using blended wool-painting techniques to capture the reality of the tones and contours. The tiny beak of the swift is captured in wool, whilst its one eye in profile is hand-crafted in resin. In perfect balance suspended from a clear vinyl thread which will disappear against the wall behind, the tiny common swift appears to be flying safely inside which ever room you choose to place him in.
Dimensions: Length (beak to tail) 20cms; Height (wing edge to belly) 11.5cms; Depth (from wall to furthest wing-edge) 12cms
He really is beautiful flying on my sitting-room wall, showing details we hardly ever see, as even the keenest birders typically watch them as silhouettes against the lighter sky.
Wall-mounted 'flat-backed' needle felted Common Swift - ‘under-wing’
Each fibre bird I create is a work of art to be treasured for a lifetime. It is not intended as a toy or for children, and should be handled with care to the fragility of the bird, its mount and detailing, and the glass or other protective surround included in each piece.
Also do note the following:
- sunlight can fade the colouring of some fibres, so do keep out of positions with direct sunshine
- do not use water to clean the fibre or mount in any circumstances, as it may lead to shrinkage and damage
- some pets may be attracted to the smell of wool, so do keep out of their reach
Should a bird be damaged, do reach out to me to assess if there is a possibility of restoration (wool and fibre can be very versatile in regard to mending).
