Sculptor creates cows’ heads from paua pieces

It took a major health scare for 67-year-old sculptor Dave Howe to discover his passion, but he’s been bringing sculptures to Fieldays ever since.

About 10 years ago Mr Howe had a stroke which left him unable to work so he turned to sculpting.

“Now I enter the Rural Press Sculpture Competition every year.”

This year he entered two cows’  heads, which took over a month to create and are made from real skulls, detailed with hundreds of small paua pieces.

Mr Howe said horse shoe nails were his preferred inspiration, which comes from his days as a younger man shoeing horses.

He can make just about anything out of them but his favourites are palm sized western saddles similar to those cowboys use.

Fellow artist and friend Todd Harris said Mr Howe is a “legendary artist”.

Mr Harris, who won the competition last year, has entered an impressive life-size horse this year, named Milly the Filly.

There is also a full-scale motor bike on display that was sculpted by Te Aroha artist Adrian Worsley.

The trio of sculptors are scrap hounds who only use recycled products in their art.

“If it’s recycled, rusty or second hand I’ll use it,” said Mr Worsley.

Both Todd and Adrian had been collecting junk for around 10 years to complete their sculptures.

All three agreed they love showing their work to the public.

“It’s the ultimate buzz when you see someone admiring your work,” said Mr Worsley.

The sculptures will be judged today with a total prize pool of $1500 up for grabs.

The sculptures can be viewed any time over Fieldays at the exhibition site, opposite the entrance to the Main pavilion, and some of them are also for sale.