We recently had a visit from Nigel Williams, a UK-born & -based sculptor and photographer, who has also spent some time living and working near the Rocky Mountains in Western Canada. His workshop, home and library is now in Berkshire.

His sculpture work is mostly in sheet metal (copper, brass, steel, aluminum, etc), often re-cycled, and frequently with ‘found’ objects as a basis. His influences and inspiration come from a wide range of sources, including industrial archaeology, heritage transport, modern abstract sculpture, and ethnic mask-making.

Nigel’s current themes include the creation of beautiful botanical forms from spent armaments, and the “fantastic embellishment” of antique domestic & industrial artefacts. Whilst works in the former can invoke disturbing confrontations with the nature of human conflict, works in the latter often incorporate a good deal of humor and nostalgia.

These two themes highlight the truly mixed-up left-brain and right-brain nature of Nigel’s character, leading to constant internal turmoil, but ultimately to the creation of work which appeals to a wide range of people. Nigel sources materials from scrapyards, sales, metal traders and garage clear-outs, and is often in very poor condition.

He spends a lot of time visiting heritage transport events, auto-jumbles and reprieved industrial sites (usually now museums, tended by retired gentlemen who are still very passionate about the older machinery) to look at and learn about the technologies, and acquire source material for my work. He has exhibited across the U.K and his work is present in collections in Spain, the United States, Australia and New Zealand!

As a photographer, Nigel holds a fascination for detail and patina, and sometimes combines his imagery and sculpture to produce 2D/3D work. His photography has been published in two unusual books: one – “K-scopes” – of kaleidoscopic images painstakingly constructed from details of mostly man-made machinery and architecture; the other – “Pacific Northwest Iron” – of “surfaces” and other images made during travels along the Northwest coast of North America.

Nigel is a member of the Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen, past administrator for and now lifetime honorary member of the Oxford Sculptors Group, and a member of the Surrey Sculpture Society. He is also a member of the Rowland Emett Society, the British Vintage Wireless Society, the Telecommunications Heritage Group, the Association of Industrial Archaeology and the Fairground Association of Great Britain.

On this occasion whilst Nigel was visiting us, he found a classic solid brass kettle stand from our stall holders Adrian & Jane Jeffries (Unit 46W). The stand is now destined to join one of Nigel’s new sculptures which we look forward to seeing in the near future! You can see more of all the fantastic work Nigel creates at his website or Facebook pages below.

Website: Orlogik Studio

Facebook: Orlogik Studio

Some exciting news for one of our stall holders here, Amanda Hughes (unit 17). Amanda discovered a sculpture at a car boot sale in Ardleigh for £90. The 14.5 inch bronze statue had an inscription which Amanda had reason to believe could possibly be a piece by Dame Elisabeth Frink, a celebrated sculptor who died in 1993.

Amanda appeared on BBC’s “Fake or Fortune?” to find out if the sculpture was indeed one of Frink’s Small Warrior collection. Created in the 1950s, there are just ten of these figures in existence, one of which was previously owned by David Bowie.

If indeed part of this collection, the sculpture could be worth up to £60,000, according to Philip Mould. However, if proven fake, it was valued at just £10.

Samples of Amanda’s sculpture and a confirmed Small Warrior were sent for testing. Amazingly, the results showed a very high possibility the two came from the same ingot. Further consultation with experts, plus the evidence presented, persuaded an assembled panel that Amanda had indeed found a genuine Frink Small Warrior!

It is now being looked after by a gallery while Amanda weighs up her options. After the verdict, Amanda said: “It’s wonderful. I’m just pleased that it’s safe. The reveal was quite the build-up and I thought it was going to go completely the other way.” Co-presenter Fiona Bruce said: “I loved learning more about the life and work of Elisabeth Frink. What a woman. She took the art world by storm at one of the most exciting times in the British art scene. It was great to put her in the spotlight again.”

Fellow presenter and art dealer Philip Mould added: “Elisabeth Frink is greatly collected and the market is continually moving. This is quite an emotive looking object so proving it’s unquestionably a Frink makes it worth a small fortune. I love that from now on, the sculpture is going to be known as Small Warrior: Colchester car boot sale. I imagine everyone is seeking out their local car boot after this.”

The episode aired on BBC One and is available to watch here on IPlayer now.

This month we met a lovely lady named Sophie. Sophie has a local business called “Sadlers Woodhouse” that specializes in pyrography art!

So what is pyrography art? The word comes from the Greek “pur” (fire) and “graphos” (writing), meaning writing with fire. In modern practice, this is more drawing than writing, with some artists creating truly fantastic pieces of art.

The exact origins of pyrography are unknown, as wood doesn’t survive well over thousands of years. Some believe its origins pre-date history, where cavemen would use charred sticks, to mark and burn the wood.

The practice of pyrography however can be traced back as far as the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD), where it was known as Fire Needle Embroidery.

Pyrography is an ever changing art form, as it is always being reinvented with new tools, techniques, materials and styles. With pyrography art, there is no set style, it’s open to personal interpretation.

While some artists stick to a traditional approach, others are bending the boundaries with their own unique styles, by incorporating paints, wood oils and stains.

What on earth does pyrography have to do with Hungerforad Arcade Antiques & Collectibles you say? Well! Sophie was after a tea strainer of all things to use as a new type of tool in her wood burning trade. You can see more of Sophie’s fantastic work via the below links:

Facebook: Sadlers Woodhouse

Instagram: Sadlers Woodhouse

We recently had a visit from a wonderful young man named Kobi Patrick! Kobi is a talented 10 year old who has taken up the skillful and challenging art of Ventriloquism! Kobi has been practicing for 4 years now and is always looking to improve.

On this occasion, Kobi visited us here at the Arcade in search of some new tools for the job! In particular for a suitable “dummy” to help perform his act. After a good hunt in the arcade, Kobi found what he was looking for from one of our stall holders, Sarah Jane (unit 32s). A new sidekick for his show!

We wish all the best to Kobi and his ventriloquist career ahead, who knows, Britain’s Got Talent could be round the corner!

Many thanks for visiting us and hope to see you again soon Kobi!

We were so excited to have experts Thomas Forrester and Neil Shuttleworth from SAS

Auctions in Newbury here at Hungerford Arcade filming an alternative programme to Bargain Hunt for Newbury Weekly News.

L-R David Evans, Diana Barley, Thomas Forrester, Adrian Gilmour, Rita Kibble, Neil Shuttleworth, Maddie Evans & Richard Evans

Each pair of contestants had £300 to spend and with the help of their experts, bought some wonderful items.

All the money raised when the items are sold at auction with go to a Children’s Hospice.

The contestants were Maddie & Richard Evans with their expert Neil and Diana Barley & David Evans with their expert, Thomas.

A great afternoon was had by everyone.