Local hands crafting UK’s ‘largest sculpture’

A piece of art that will become Britain’s largest cast bronze sculpture when it goes on display next year is currently under construction in Llanrhaeadr. 

The 7m (23ft) sculpture, called Messenger, will be installed outside the Theatre Royal Plymouth with sculptor, Joseph Hillier, inspired to create it by an actor rehearsing Shakespeare's Othello at the theatre.

He said its name refers to the "pivotal" role of a performer to "breathe life into words". The sculpture, commissioned by the theatre, had a working title of Bianca after the character whose "split-second pose" is the basis for the piece.

More than 200 bronze panels are being welded together at the Castle Fine Art Foundry in Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant using the technique of lost wax casting.

The sculpture will weigh nine and a half tonnes and is too large to be put together inside the foundry.

Cornish sculptor Mr Hillier said he was "taken aback" when he first saw the completed leg section.

“It's a really big piece - if I lay on the floor, I'm the size of one of the feet,” he said.

It is set to be unveiled at the Theatre Royal in spring next year as part of its £7.5m regeneration project.

Visitors will be able to walk under Messenger's body “into the theatre, like an archway”.

·      The Theatre Royal said it is "by far" the UK's largest bronze sculpture by volume, at 25.6 cubic metres

·      It was created using 3D scans taken from the actor

·      It is 7m (23ft) high, 8.7m (29ft) wide and 5,5m (18ft) deep

·      It will be made of more than 200 individual bronze panels

·      Each panel weighs about 35kg (77lbs)

·      In total, 30 craftspeople have worked on the construction