Spirit of the Seas

"This piece was inspired by my daughter, who spent many years riding horses. Living close to the sea, we often went down to the beach to ride. The sea was often very rough, and you could see the “white horses” breaking on the waves. I have tried to capture the power of both the sea and the horse in this sculpture."

Steve’s art is the result of years of experimentation for the former painter, who has previously sold his work in Harrods and Selfridges. Using his innate understanding of engineering and design, he incorporates inspirations from his travels to India, Peru, Kenya and Australia.

Each of his animals is hand-finished and patinated by himself, with the self-taught sculptor creating them in his sprawling nine-room studio in Yorkshire. To develop his skills, he delved into the closely-guarded secrets of foundrymen to master mould-making skills and the manipulation of molten bronze.

He says: “The chemicals and heat bring the sculptures to life. Having worked so closely with wildlife on conservation projects, I wanted to capture this ‘essence’ in my art.” Discover artwork by Steve Winterburn here.