Recent Work by Val Wigham
Witness to a Thousand Miracles
Once planted to mark boundaries and hold livestock, hedgerows have, over centuries, become the living arteries of our countryside. They breathe life into the landscape, offering food, shelter, and safe passage for countless creatures. Within their tangle of roots and branches, dormice scurry, voles and hedgehogs hide, and birds dart between the woven stems. Though often overlooked, hedgerows are among the richest ecosystems we have. One Devon hedge was found…
The Silence Between Heartbeats
The Hare and the Fox Created on Sycamore Dimensions: 78cm x 48cm My latest piece is a departure from previous work, an exploration of new possibilities. I have crossed boundaries, embraced new techniques, and introduced colour, marquetry, and even a blowtorch into the process. Using a laser cutter, I created the wildflowers and grasses in the foreground. The marquetry allowed me to cut each shape and carefully set the wildflowers…
Stardust and Flame
Created on American Cherry Dimensions: 90cm x 55cm This portrait of David Bowie, captured in his Ziggy Stardust phase, is burned onto a 150-year-old slab of American Cherry. It began as an expressive and experimental journey, a chance to step beyond realism and explore the vibrant energy of performance and persona. I pushed my techniques further, hand-colouring the burn with liquid acrylics to evoke movement, mood, and rhythm – the pulse of music translated…
Fading Light, Hidden Secrets
Created on Walnut Dimensions: 78cm x 48cm The title of the artwork captures the mystery of the foxes as they move through the meadow at dusk, blending into the shadows with grace and quiet observation. The fox, steeped in myth and legend, has long symbolised cunning, magic, and mystery across cultures. Its intelligence and elusive nature make it a captivating figure in folklore, fiction, and fairytales, outwitting predators and hunters…
The Embrace of Branch and Feather
Created on Walnut Dimensions: 90cm x 40cm In this detailed pyrography artwork, two silver birch trees rise and intertwine, their pale trunks marked with the subtle scars of weather and time. The bark, finely etched with delicate lines, carries both strength and fragility, a reminder that endurance often hides in quiet forms. Around them, sparrows move through the branches, their muted feathers blending into the woodland tones. They are not…
The Opportunist
Created on Walnut Dimensions: 52cm x 33cm Set beneath a lush woodland canopy, The Opportunist captures a delightful moment of mischief and nature’s quiet comedy. Two squirrels, utterly absorbed in their feast of acorns and chestnuts, are locked in a battle against gravity and their own insatiable appetites. Oblivious to the world beyond their treasure trove, they fail to notice a clever little mouse lurking nearby. The opportunist seizes his moment, a…
The Farmyard Table: Wildlife in Wood
Created on Pine Dimensions: 180cm x 90cm A pine plank table has been transformed with imagery of the wild birds and animals I encounter daily on the farm. These creatures, especially the badgers and foxes I’ve fed for years, have become part of the fabric of life here. In many ways, they feel like family. The concept was to create a continuous visual narrative so that no matter where you…