A striking new sculpture carved from ancient oak wood and depicting Oxfordshire's rare county flower is set to be completed this weekend in the village of Ducklington. Artist Natasha Houseago, who has served as the artist in residence since July, has been dedicating one to two days per week working on the impressive piece made from a locally sourced ancient oak.
The sculpture beautifully depicts a snake's head fritillary, which is recognized as the rare county flower of Oxfordshire. This artwork will serve as one component of an artistic trail commissioned by the local parish council, with the complete trail scheduled to open to the public next year. The final completion ceremony is planned for Saturday at Bartholomew Park in Ducklington.
Houseago, who describes herself primarily as a hand carver, explained that the sculpture has "slowly evolved over the months" through her meticulous craftsmanship. She found the creative process particularly rewarding, noting that it has been "lovely" and allowed her to "meet the local people whilst I've been carving away." The interactive nature of her residency has created a unique bond between the artist and the community.
The raw material for this exceptional piece came from a local oak tree that had fallen during a storm, giving new life to what might otherwise have been waste wood. Houseago transformed this storm-damaged timber into the distinctive shape of the county flower through careful hand carving. Her research process was thorough and scientific, as she explained: "I looked at fritillaries in great detail, I had my field microscope and I thought they are absolutely perfect in a sense."
The artist was particularly drawn to both the aesthetic and symbolic qualities of the fritillary flower. "It's a very strong sculptural flower and I love the idea that the fritillary was known to be a symbol of peace and resilience and that just felt really apt in these difficult times," Houseago said. This symbolism adds deeper meaning to the artwork beyond its visual appeal.
The sculpture incorporates additional decorative elements that enhance its connection to the local environment and community. The piece features carved depictions of swans, reflecting the local wildlife. Additionally, Houseago has created a small cavity within the sculpture where clay insects crafted by local children will be hidden inside. She believes this collaborative element will "bring the carving to life" and described the process as "magical."
Reflecting on the extended creative process, Houseago expressed satisfaction with the community engagement aspect of her work. "It's a very lovely thing to have been slowly carving it, and the locals have been able to see it slowly evolve," she noted. This public creation process has allowed residents to witness the transformation of raw materials into finished art over several months, creating anticipation for the final reveal at Saturday's completion event.
