A TROWBRIDGE sculptor who makes intricate trees out of 24 carat gold-plated wire copper will show off his work at a major art exhibition in London next week.

Patrick Drinkwater, 79, has been preparing for the exhibition for the past 20 years and has created a total of 42 trees to be put on show.

The exhibition, named Silvana, will be held at the Herrick Gallery in Piccadilly between November 9 – 19 and will only showcase work made by the Trowbridge man.

Mr Drinkwater, of Longfield House, said: “I’m feeling both nervous and excited at the moment. The past 20 years of my life have been building up to this exhibition.

“When the exhibition was announced it was pure excitement but as it has drawn nearer more nerves have begun to creep in, which is natural I guess.

“It doesn’t matter how talented you are, you never know how people will react to what you’ve spent years of your life creating.”

Each individual tree took Mr Drinkwater between weeks and months to complete and they are priced between £500 and £20,000.

The artist added that the inspiration for his trees comes from nature.

“There is inspiration all around us, everywhere we look,” he said.

“All you have to do is take one look at nature and you will find that the smallest thing can have the biggest impact, but looking is the bit people can sometimes forget to do.

“You can find beauty in anything, even a slug.”

After collecting and carving stone he collected from historic buildings which were destroyed after World War 2 in the 1950s, Mr Drinkwater began creating his metal trees in the early 1970s after being inspired by the trees near his home.

For the base of each tree he carefully selects materials to add to the overall design and make them sturdier.

Visit www.patrickdrinkwater.co.uk for more information on Mr Drinkwater’s work.