The Osprey – Monmouth

Cherry’s ash tree in Monmouth had a natural fork that suggested a bird with outstretched wings. Together, we developed the idea of an osprey coming in to land. I designed the sculpture around the existing tree and carved it in place, using its shape and grain to help form the wings and feather detail.     

The finished sculpture stands over 8 feet (2.4 metres) tall, so I used scaffolding during the carving. Once the timber had dried, I protected it with Osmo 420. Subtle pyrography and pale highlights bring out the osprey’s plumage while letting the character of the wood show through.