Night Shift the creation of the Barn Owl from Bowbrook Studios Worcester, Quality wildlife sculpture

North Farm

The story starts here on North Farm in the rural Worcestershire village of Broughton Hackett, where in the loft of a timber barn, farm implements from a forgotten era have lain undisturbed for over 50 years. Time has laid a thick coating of dust over these unused tools from the age of horsepower, now used only by birds and spiders to make their homes.

The only light to enter this part of the barn is coming through a small square hole, which has been cut in the barn’s crumbling structure. Closer examination gives us clues that this is not just a source of illumination but a doorway for one of our best-loved creatures of the night, The Barn Owl.

At The Scene

Standing in the eerie half-light of the barn’s loft, it wasn’t difficult to imagine the owl returning from a nights hunting to perch on the discarded aimes in this forgotten store. Its mate waiting with the chicks for their supper.

The desire to recreate this scene was not something to be ignored, very rarely does an image so truly inspirational come along, that work began immediately in recording the surroundings. Returning to the barn on several occasions, sometimes taking photographs, sometimes sketching and sometimes just absorbing the atmosphere the idea for the sculpture began to grow. A plan was made, more sketches taken from ornithological studies and then the real work began.

In The Studio

Nature and evolution are indeed wonderful, one only appreciates their true genius when trying to recreate it. The image I had in my mind whilst standing in the barn was one of the owl alighting onto an aime (part of the harness for a heavy horse). Of all the poses for the bird this is probably the most difficult to recreate, as every feather and muscle is employed in this delicate manoeuvre.

Constructed over a metal frame, layers of wax are added to create a map of the pose. Each with its own skeleton metal frame the wings are added to the body and positioned so that the real sculpting can begin. With the aime faithfully reproduced the partially completed bird is in position and the detailing of the feathers begins, bringing life to the piece. Only when the minute detail, even down to the spider’s web is added can we stand back and admire the finished sculpture.

Each piece is meticulously hand painted to create the richness of colour and subtle shades of the owl’s plumage. To complete the authenticity of the scene the aime has been finished to reproduce the appearance of the aged metal.

Click here for a gallery of pictures, to discover Night Shifts creation

The Barn Owl – Tyto Alba