This needle-felted linnet was created as a narrative wildlife sculpture — a small ceremonial presence rather than a decorative object. Dressed in layered textiles with a ruffled collar and red lining, the bird holds a processional staff, suggesting ritual, duty, and quiet devotion.
I work slowly, building each sculpture by hand using needle felting, sculpted polymer, and mixed media. The materials are chosen not only for realism, but for their ability to carry character — posture, weight, and intention matter as much as surface detail.
Birds have long appeared in folklore and religious symbolism as messengers, witnesses, and moral figures. The linnet, often associated with song and spiritual endurance, felt particularly suited to this role. Rather than illustrating a specific story, this piece exists as a moment within an imagined narrative — a character caught mid-ritual, attentive and composed.
As with all my work, no two pieces are ever the same. Each sculpture is an individual, shaped by observation, material exploration, and a quiet, intuitive process.