We make all kinds of mechanical art; automata, environmental kinetic art and mechanical props. Automata are interactive machines, like miniature theatres that tell a story with movement, lighting and sound effects. Previously shown at Cabaret Mechanical Theatre, Covent Garden and the V&A Museum, Bethnal Green, we now have them at Glasgow Museum of Art, Marvin's Marvellous Mechanical Museum, Detroit, Kent Wildlife Trust
Visitor Centre
Automata/donation boxes Automata are like miniature theatres showing 3D cartoons that comment on life, as we know it. Made by blending papier-mâché and microcomputer technology, automata are antidotes to the machine-made modern world. Even with super-real computer games, once you have experienced and interacted with an automaton, you never forget it.
We specialise in kinetic sculpture that moves by sun, water and wind power. We sometimes use recycled materials for making our sculpture, such as plastic fizzy drinks bottles, which being light, tough and waterproof are perfect for wind sculpture. What amazing things plastic bottles are, they last for years and yet we use them once, have a quick swig and then throw them away.
In 2013 as part of their Artweek, we held a workshop with Year 11. The theme was the sun and the students made wire sculptures on the subject of the sun which they adorned the Helioscope. The sculpture is solar powered and was designed to cast reflection and prismatic light around the school main entrance.
Two Spheres and Spirals adorning our workshop in Kilburn
Our entry to Bathing Beauties called Sunspot, a travelling show of the best proposals for alternative bathing huts to be built on the Lincolnshire coast. Ours was entirely made from reclaimed material; plastics, CDs and drainage pipe. The show toured the UK for 2 years and was an initialive of Michale Trainor for Lincolshire Council.
