FOREST OF IMAGINATION OWL TRANCE BENCH OWLS
I was invited to make some wooden owl sculptures for the Forest of Imagination, held in Entry Hill, Bath, September 2025.
These were constructed from wood offcuts in my studio. The one on the left with the big eyebrows was created by glueing pieces of balsa wood onto a wire frame, then varnished. Inside, to line it, I pasted pages I ripped out of the 120 Days of Sodom by the Marquis De Sade. Then I was worried that the small children visiting the installation might read the text so I covered over it in white paint.
I named the five owls after members of the gang that did the Great Train Robbery, but that was mainly to entertain myself. The most fragile was Bruce Reynolds, second from the right, who did not have an internal frame and was just made of offcuts glued together. I got a message from the organisers saying one of your owls (Bruce Reynolds) might need a bit of maintenance, and when I got there he was in tiny pieces on the floor. I am not suggesting that someone picked it up and threw it on the floor and then stamped on it, but that is what it looked like.
I posted a picture of The Ulsterman, (far right) to my instagram account and a young man from Manchester who I did not know commented, "What is this skilless shite?" I took the word 'skilless' to mean he thought it did not require any skill to make it. I was being insulted by a random member of the public, quite why I could not work out. It wasn't that bad, surely? Passing resemblance to a barn owl, considering I was paid £300 for three week's work. I was driven somewhat over the edge by this and replied, "It is an owl, you cunt." It didn't make me feel very good, but then neither did working for the Forest of Imagination, so matchy matchy.
They were shown as part of an installation featuring musician Martin Ware's Mesmerise 111 sound piece.
The Forest of Imagination was held between 23rd September and 2nd October. More information is available on their website, but don't look for my name on the information sheet, because they didn't include it, despite me asking twice. Unprofessional.
There was a feature on the Forest of Imagination on Points West at 6.30 in the evening on the 1st October. The day before it closed. I have always wanted to appear on Points West, and it finally happened, via a wooden owl I had made. If you drive down Pulteney Road South and look up at the windows just before you get to Widcombe Junior School, you might see this owl looking out of my studio window.
