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A Norfolk-based Artist-Blacksmith sought the support of local galvanizers to future-proof his ewe-nique sculpture. 

Nigel Barnett, Artist-Blacksmith at Fransham Forge Norfolk, was commissioned to create a bespoke sheep sculpture by local property developers, Abel Homes, to take pride of place within their brand-new housing project in Watton. 

He said: “From memory board to life-sized sculpture, this was a fantastic project. I started by fabricating the structure of the body, then created the hundreds of individual curls for the fleece, before working on the more intricate details of its face. 

“While it’s a delicate piece of art, we wanted to create a robust yet realistic representation that could withstand being within the public domain and exposed to the elements. As part of this, it was important to appropriately coat the sculpture, and we decided that galvanizing would allow for a finish that was tough, durable and long-lasting.”

Nigel took the sheep sculpture to Acrow Galvanizing Ltd, where it was hot-dipped in molten zinc at temperatures around 450^C to allow for a metallurgically-bonded coating to be formed. Galvanizing provides a sustainable and reliable finish, which boasts the greatest resistance to damage and offers long-term protection against rust and corrosion for more than 70 years without the need for maintenance. 

Mark Endsleigh, Commercial Support Manager at Acrow Galvanizing added: “Galvanizing truly is a wonderful industry to be a part of – no two days are ever the same. It was baa-rilliant to watch the sheep sculpture emerge from the bath, and watch the fantastic craftsmanship transform into an exquisite piece of artwork. It’s great to know that it will stand proud in its new home and be enjoyed by the residents of the new housing estate for many years to come.”

The completed sheep sculpture was installed in July 2023. For more details about how it was created, check out Nigel’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NigelBarnettArtistBlacksmith. 

Acrow Galvanizing Ltd is part of Wedge Group Galvanizing Ltd, the largest hot-dip galvanizing organisation in the UK with a history dating back over 155 years. With 14 plants strategically placed across the country, the firm offers a truly national galvanizing service.

By Wedge Group Galvanizing Ltd

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