Hello,

Please find below a press release and accompanying time lapse video that may be of interest.   

The time-lapse video is at:  https://youtu.be/IzWgEYn03v4 

Best,

Aaron Haley

Outwrite

01352 706260  

International award-winning sculptor’s life-size horse to go on display in Nottinghamshire

An international award-winning wood sculptor’s life-size horse will be spending the month of August on show at a sculptural showcase and extravaganza event in Nottinghamshire.

Created by Simon O’Rourke, managing director of Wrexham-based Tree Carving, the Sculpture in the Sanctuary exhibition in Southwell, marks the latest stop on a UK-wide tour of the horse.

Following appearances at the Bolesworth International, Woodfest and The Big Art Show Shrewsbury, the gelding, which is modelled on Dexter, a horse from the Anglesey Riding Centre, has been chosen to exhibit at the biennial event.

Alongside the horse will be a stunning Dragon’s mouth archway made by Simon at Woodfest.

Simon said: “The horse took me more than 60 hours to create and is one of my finest works of art.  It garners a lot of attention on social media when we publish posts about it so I know it’s popular, too.

“It’s fantastic to have exhibited him at several high-profile events, culminating in spending the last month of summer at the Sculpture in the Sanctuary.

“It’s a privilege to have been asked to showcase both the horse and the dragon mouth archway at the event.”

Dexter was bred at a racing yard and now helps people learn how to ride horses at the Anglesey Riding Centre.

The 12-year-old gelding is a firm favourite among staff and customers and John Knock, owner of the centre, is over the moon that a life-size model of Dexter is touring the UK.

He said: “Dexter has an incredibly sad history following years of neglect, and it's heart-warming to see him re-created so wonderfully by Simon.

“A lady from Dolgellau rescued him and brought him back to health and he became a part of the team here at the centre a few years ago.

“I’m over the moon that he is being seen throughout the UK.”

Simon added: “There was a lot of emotion involved in creating this piece because of Dexter’s back story.

“I wanted to find a horse that I liked the look of and could clearly see the muscle structure.  Dexter fitted the bill perfectly.

“He’s an absolutely gorgeous horse and I hope those who know Dexter will see the likeness in my creation.

“It’s fitting that the model will spend August in Southwell, which is home to Southwell Racecourse, as Dexter was actually born at a racing yard.”

To see a time-lapse video of the horse being made visit www.treecarving.co.uk.

Ends