Miniatura

I would describe myself as a lifelong miniaturist but I’ve been exhibiting my work since 1985. My childhood was full of museums, stately homes and castles which in those days did not contain any tech gadgets. Just to stand where Queen Victoria had stood or where the Fire of London began was enough for me. When I got home, I loved to recreate the buildings or antique toys that I had seen that day. 

The first doll I ever made was a jointed doll that I fashioned out of Das clay which I’d bought with my pocket money. I was 10 years old and very proud of my creation. 

These days, my work is a little more sophisticated. The dolls are sculpted from polymer clay over a wire armature which allows them to be posed. I sculpt using various dental tools and dressmaking pins. I then design the costume and the fabric. This means that every doll is truly one of a kind. I work from home in a small cluttered room but it’s definitely my happy place. Each doll takes between 10 and 20 hours, depending on their complexity. 

I am often asked to depict historical figures and characters from films or books, so I use the internet or delve into my comprehensive home library.  I often watch clips of movies or TV shows on youtube to get the right look. I am a stickler for detail! I know how important this is to my customers who wish to recreate their childhood memories. 

I admire many of the doll artists who were my contemporaries back in the 80s and I am now lucky enough to call them friends. My passion for the miniature world has never dwindled and the ideas just keep on coming!