Hover

Mixed Media, 2008

Hover is a tribute to one of my favourite birds, the kestrel. Once a common sight in the British countryside, the kestrel’s presence has become increasingly rare, as human actions—pesticides, vanishing hedgerows, and more traffic—continue to chip away at its habitat. This decline fills me with a deep sadness.

The kestrel’s ability to hover—suspended in mid-air, perfectly poised for its next strike—is nothing short of extraordinary. It’s a marvel of evolutionary engineering, a seamless blend of grace and raw power. For me, the kestrel’s hovering represents something almost otherworldly, an intense stillness in the air that demands attention. It’s a moment outside of time, one that stays with you, a reminder of the fragile balance between nature and humanity.

In Hover, I sought to capture that stillness, that almost magical moment of flight. A frozen snapshot of beauty and power, a tribute to a bird that is becoming harder to find in the skies. Hidden within the sculpture are magnets, the bird hovers between their force is made from iron filings.

I hope you get to see one soon.