It's probably best if you read the journey in reverse order...
3 Giant Bengali Puppet Commission
Owl, Tepa Putul and Peacock.
Puppet Maker: Iola Weir (Lead Artist, Sculptor, & Fabricator)
Assisted by Volunteer : Jennifer Popiolek
Designer : Shama Anom
Event Producers: Emergency Exit Arts (EEA)
Tower hamlets Brick Lane Curry Festival 2026.
Owl Fabrics Painted by Bengal Artist Baten
LADY DART
Commissioned by Totnes Festival
A celebration of HOME
A 4.5 m tall puppet made from cane and using recycled fabrics from previous projects and waste streams .
Photography credit : Theo Moye
Cyclone
"the Goat Ghost of the Dorset Coast"
GLobal Grooves commission
🏴☠️Stories of ancient shipwrecks and lost treasures
He is the creature that rides the crest of the waves,
a cast fishing-net woven in centuries of tales and treasure by the tide’s rise and fall.
He is a magical spirit bearing a fish skeleton as a crown.
He is encrusted with deep sea phenomena.
He was very specific he wanted to have an ornate skull, and not be symmetrical. He was made on years of knowledge and intuition and at the core of that is play and experimentation.
He is made entirely of recycled materials and quirky materials from my past creations .
We were very lucky to work with the fabulous winton college and two local artists Anna Shiels and Rosemary Edwards.
Oxun
Leading the build with 10 visual artists on the GLobal Grooves Future LEaders Programe
Aurora
A puppet designed to embody the Aurora Borealis
She was commissioned by GLobal Grooves
and I hear she is the People's Favourite!
Padmini
Based on my favourite Bollywood Actress Padmini.
I was so excited to be asked to make a gorgeous Indian Female puppet
I explored a 3d pattercutting approach for her body, while building her of the usual aluminium framework.
I believe she is my first ever Clay sculpt since 2001!
I spent some time as a molding and casting assitant and was finally able to create my own fiberglass cast from the sculpt.
I invited students from Plymouth College of Art to assist me on the build at my studio in Devon
Once she was partially built, she was then completed as part of the Future Leaders programme, where I led several years as Visual Arts Mentor.
Commissioned by Global Grooves
I.O.L.A. V2
Sivaji
Padmini needed a boyfriend so we made her Sivaji.
Oxumare
Commissioned by Global Grooves as part of their "Project Phoenix"
Constance
My first ever Giant Puppet
Having spent an eternity supporting artists, I finally got a chance to explore a world beyond props and costume. I have always loved aluminium and textiles, weaving and transparencies, layering and forming.
I couldn't wait to get sculpting!
As this was quite a significant challenge to go large, I asked my dear friend Tony Mason to build be the backpack and basic skeleton from which I could sculpt the beautiful constance.
She had a short life and was sadly buried in the great fire.
Commissioned by GLobal Grooves
Tommy Cooper
Admittedly, having not grown up in the UK, I had no idea who Tommy Cooper was.
Needless to say I was CHARMED!
I watched many videos to find his profile and get a good look at his expressions.
his frame was already built and I had the pleasure of sculpting him and making his costume
He is one of my favourite scuplts by far!
commissioned by Burn The Curtain for the Turn on the Lights Exeter
celebrate south africa
Laminate Puppet
IOW 2001
When I finally entered Murphy's structural workshop after 3 weeks of dabbling in wire sculptures, batik, face-painting and costume making, I never left.
I had been wacthing him make backpacks and draw techincal drawings, but now it was my turn to help him and what an honour that was .
He donned me the task of creating the patterns for the laminate puppet body parts.
These were panels that were assembled from flat to 3d, using precise measurements and seam allowances.
I understood his language- and I found my home.
The following Puppets are collaborations where I most likely made the costume and accessories elements,
usually working alongside the incredible Tony Mason:
Gordons Dames
The Patron's Lunch
Lead Puppet Dresser: iola Weir
Designer/ Lead puppet builder/ sculptor : Tony Mason
Assistant Puppet Dresser: Kitty Power
Kinetika
Grumblebum
I made the costume for this fine fellow.
I didn't have much to work from as he was being built while I made the costume, but we make it work as always !
Designed and built by Tony Mason at Rose Bruford COllege with Students from the Scenic and Props degree
Kinetika Commission
