Geckoman

Geckoman: bronze and ceramic wildlife sculpture from Hebden Bridge

Geckoman is the trading name of John Noble-Milner, a potter and sculptor who has worked under that name since starting in business in 1997. He became known on the craft fair circuit as Geckoman, and geckos remain among his favourite subjects. The workshop is in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, and the sculpture is described as handmade there.

Subjects and range

The catalogue is organised around animal families rather than product types. The categories listed are hermit crabs, geckos, toads, frogs, bats, seahorses, salamanders, chameleons, birds, turtles and tortoises, and insects. Pieces are offered as limited edition or open edition sculpture, and the shop also lists gift cards.

How the animals are modelled

Noble-Milner describes his aim as sculpting animals that look naturally poised, capturing character through a tilt of the head, a quizzical look in the eye and a sense of movement and energy, so that a piece appears almost ready to spring rather than as a frozen snapshot. He cites a grounding in biology and an understanding of anatomy as the basis for the detailed, lifelike quality of the work.

Materials, casting and environmental approach

The bronzes are cast in the UK using metals from over 95% recycled sources. Both the home and the workshop are powered by 100% renewable energy, and the business subscribes to a scheme to offset all unavoidable carbon emissions. Geckoman presents itself as a carbon neutral business, and the sculptor links this approach to his concern for the environment and his interest in conserving the creatures that inspire the work. In his own words, the greatest success of the work would be to remind people that many of these animals and their habitats are being lost at an alarming rate.

Buying and delivery

Prices are shown in pounds sterling (GBP). Items in stock are indicated as shipping within two days, while made-to-order pieces take varying times. The site states that there are almost 100% five-star reviews and more than 400 of them, and includes a customer account of a hermit crab sculpture arriving promptly and being received with delight.

Where to see the sculpture

The events calendar lists appearances at RHS Garden Wisley near Woking, Surrey (30 April to 4 May and 4 to 8 November), Hebden Bridge Open Studios in West Yorkshire (3 to 5 July), Global Birdfair at Oakham, Rutland (10 to 12 July), WOMAD Festival at Neston Park, Wiltshire (23 to 26 July), Cropredy Festival in Oxfordshire (13 to 15 August), RHS Garden Hyde Hall near Chelmsford, Essex (28 to 31 August), Art In The Gardens at the Botanical Gardens in Sheffield (5 to 6 September), Hever Castle in Edenbridge, Kent (10 to 13 September) and the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair in Manchester (15 to 18 October).