Willow Kingfisher by CHRIS OAKEY

Background: Chris Oakey was a primary school teacher for 15 years before seeking a change from the traditional classroom environment. He transitioned to teaching outdoor learning in a school's woodland area for five years before founding his company, Oakey Bear.
Journey into Sculpting: He originally started his business to deliver "Wow Days" and curriculum enhancement for primary schools. However, when the COVID-19 lockdown hit, he found himself without furlough coverage. To clear his mind, he created a life-sized human sculpture out of willow (a material he had never used before) and placed it in his front garden. The piece attracted so much local attention that people began dropping letters through his door asking for commissions, accidentally launching his career as a sculptor.
The Name "Oakey Bear": His company name is a combination of his surname and a memorable encounter he had in his twenties. In 1998, while working in Pennsylvania, USA, he came face-to-face with a massive Black Bear in a forest. They stared at each other calmly for a few minutes before the bear walked away, an event that left a profound, positive impact on him.
Current Work: Today, he divides his time between making bespoke willow sculptures for homes, businesses, and schools, and teaching curriculum enhancement days and corporate sculpture workshops (like the one where your Kingfisher was built). He weaves his sculptures tightly around metal and wood armatures using sustainable willow.

Original hunt and photograph by hunter Lulo.

Willow Kingfisher