Willie Wagtails
by Richard Eggleston
Richard Eggleston's admiration for the Willie Wagtails led him to create a sculpture of these brave and cheeky birds. Although they are not as big as the sculpture portrays, their fearless defence of their territory against Wedge-tailed eagles makes them appear larger than life. On moonlit nights, they sing their call "sweet pretty creature" through the night, and they don't seem to know when to go to bed. The sculpture is crafted from recycled stainless steel and painted onto a timber branch.
Recycled painted stainless steel and timber branch.
If you have any enquiries about this sculpture or interested in purchasing it, please feel free to reach out to our team at stevensstreetgallery@gmail.com or call the gallery on 0494 022 174.
As an independent gallery, we collaborate closely with our artists throughout the sales process and buyer introductions. We encourage our artists to personally deliver their sculptures to their new homes whenever possible, as it provides a unique opportunity for both parties to connect.
Richard Eggleston
Richard Eggleston's artistic journey began on his Darling Downs family farm where he indulged his passion for wood carving whenever time permitted. After retiring to the Sunshine Coast in 2000, he joined a woodworkers group in Cooroy, where he carved an impressive front door for a friend's new home. However, it was the discovery of an anvil and an old farm welder that inspired Richard to explore a new medium - stainless steel. Several of his stainless steel sculptures have been showcased at Sculpture on the Edge, and two of them now adorn the gardens of Spicers Tamarind Retreat.
Richard's artistic pursuits continued with a two-year ceramics course at TAFE in Cooroy, where he honed his skills in sculpting. He also completed a bronzing course at the USQ Summer School in Toowoomba and received a commission to create a life-size bronze howling dingo for the Jondaryan Woolshed.
His artistic endeavours also include a stainless steel sculpture of the late Stan Kuhl, commissioned by the Friends of the Peacehaven Botanic Park at Highfields. Richard based the sculpture on a well-known photo of Stan leaning on a farm gate during his dairy farming days.