Spotlight on Bempton Cliffs

To celebrate another road trip to Bempton Cliffs, I thought it might be fun to revisit some of my sculptures and how they’ve been inspired by my visits to the cliffs.

If you’ve never been to Bempton Cliffs, it’s a nature reserve on the East coast of the UK.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of seabirds make it their breeding site between March and August.

The path which you can walk along brings you eye-level with them and the noise is astonishing.

The whole experience never ceases to fill me with awe and feel lucky to be alive.

Nestled in the smallest of spaces on the sheer chalk cliffs overlooking the North Sea are;

Puffins
Gannets
Razorbills
Kittiwakes
Guillemots
Gulls and of course pigeons to name a few.

If you can tear yourself away from looking out to sea, turn around and there’s plenty of other beautiful birds to admire from Skylarks and Kestrels to Barn Owls and Short Eared Owls.

I was 40 before I saw my first Puffin, and I count myself lucky as many people have yet to see one. I was completely taken aback by just how small they are. Their bright orange feet gave them a comical walk I like to refer to as, “flippy flappy.” Which, is the name of my first sculpture I’d like to mention.

A small ceramic figurine of a Puffin. Bright colours and simplified shape make it very characterful and tactile. Sat on a wooden surface with seashells.

Arthur Flap & Puffin Billy Bronzes

As Flippy Flappy was at the foundry, I started work on two more Puffins in clay.

The first is Billy, he’s leaning forward into the conversation. Arthur got his name because he’s only in ‘arthur flap’ rather than a full flap.

I had no intention of casting them too but knew how wonderful they’d look together.

Well, I’d already started down the slippery slope so soon there were 3 bronze Puffins!

The three love to have a good old catch up and I swear they’re planning something mischievous!

A bronze sculpture of a standing Puffin in a traditional brown bronze patina. The surfaces are smooth and he has character

A collection of 3 bronze standing Puffin sculptures in a traditional brown bronze patina. The surfaces are smooth and he has character. They are grouped together like they are chatting

Razorbills

If the Razorbill was a song, it would be ZZ Top’s Sharp Dressed Man.

Absolutely stunning birds with their smart tuxedos.

As pairs they make formidable couples defending their spot on the cliffs. The distinctive pinstriping is a detail any top end automotive designer would be proud of.