Horseshoe sculptures by Tom Hill

A reader sent me a few images of an artist from the UK named Tom Hill. He uses horseshoes for sculpture!

I think creating horseshoe sculptures appears easier than it really is… have you ever tried to make anything other than bridle hooks and candle holders out of horseshoes? They don’t bend easily.

Sure, we have zillions used ones around… but they’re dirty and hard as, well, steel.

So, I was intrigued to find out more about him.

TOM HILL

He must be a man of few words or maybe he has no publicist. I don’t know… but gathering information about him was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

The only way I knew he was from the UK was because we don’t have castles here. (I did find that a Lord from a castle had commissioned a piece from Hill.)

Another clue to his whereabouts came via a comment about most of his work being sold in the UK.

Finally, after using my best sleuthing, I found his website. It wasn’t intuitive. And, obviously he had switched from his former – very inutitive – website name to a somewhat obscure URL.

AHA!

I thought I had hit the jackpot when I found his website. But, no… All is said was what every other article said. Here it is:

“Tom Hill is a 26 year-old self-taught sculptor who for the last 3 years has been working with recycled horseshoes to create life-size animal sculptures. Tom utilises a gas forge, anvil and hammer as well as various welding techniques to heat and shape the horseshoes to create his sculptures.

Tom has created a wide range of sculptures such as hedgehogs, squirrels, ducks, herons, swans, pigs, hares, badgers, dogs, lions, cheetahs, stags, camels, horses and elephants, all of which are life size.

During May 2006 Tom exhibited at the Living Crafts at Hatfield House from which he received many orders and commissions including one from Lady Salisbury (from Hatfield House) for two life sized elephants for her husband’s birthday. These were delivered in September 2006 and are now on display with their new baby elephant in their private garden at Hatfield House. They were featured on BBC London News, Three Counties Radio and in the local newspaper.

To date much of Tom’s work has been sold in England with some pieces going to Italy and Ireland. Tom also has plans to create some sculptures using stainless and has started a small amount of work with copper.

Tom has an ambition to create a 30ft rearing horse made from horseshoes, but he is just looking for the right place for it to be exhibited.”

Sigh.

So without any more info, let’s just show the art!