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A renowned artist blacksmith has once again called on the expertise of Hull-based Humber Galvanizing Ltd to ensure her latest piece of artwork will stand the test of time.

North Yorkshire-based sculptor, Katie Ventress, was honoured to be asked to take part in this year’s Sculpture Trail at Newby Hall & Gardens, near Ripon. For the exhibition, she has created a striking stained glass and steel sculpture of a magpie – entitled Iridescent Omen – which will be on display in the gardens until the end of September, and available for sale as part of the Trail.

Katie said: “I knew I wanted to make something that was both striking and long lasting. Stained glass is such a delicate medium, so I needed the steelwork to provide strength and security. To make sure the sculpture would endure the outdoors for years to come, galvanizing was the natural choice. The treated surface also enabled me to create a striking contrast between the bird’s black and white areas, leaving the ‘white’ sections as bright galvanized metal.”

Measuring approximately 1.5metres in height with an equal wingspan, the magpie sculpture combines the timeless craft of stained glass – designed in collaboration with -based Janet Fraser Stained Glass – with the durability of steel. Viewed from a distance, the sculpture’s wings and iconic diamond-shaped tail create an instantly recognisable silhouette, while up close, flashes of colour appear in the glass.

The completed sculpture was sent to Humber Galvanizing Ltd, part of Wedge Group Galvanizing Ltd, where it was hot-dipped in molten zinc – a sustainable finishing process that metallurgically bonds the coating to the steel and provides unrivalled resistance to corrosion.

Tony Linsley, Sales Manager at Humber Galvanizing, said: “It’s a privilege to once again support Katie in bringing her incredible vision to life. Her magpie creation is a truly unique piece, and galvanizing will make sure it can be appreciated in all its glory for many years to come.”

Katie concluded: “This project took a huge amount of time, effort, skill, and even some trial and error – so it was really important to me to protect all that hard work. Choosing galvanizing has not only safeguarded the steel but also enhanced the overall design, and I hope that visitors to Newby Hall enjoy experiencing the piece as much as I enjoyed creating it.”

Humber Galvanizing is part of Wedge Group Galvanizing Ltd, the UK’s largest hot-dip galvanizing organisation with 15 plants nationwide and over 155 years of history.

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