Dianne Preston

showcase

Fandango

Fandango

Random bird made of objects found in my studio: wood fragment, paper towel holder, shells, floor nails.

Original
Papier mâché
24" x 4" x 14"
Sold
This comic bird of the fantastic order "fandango" is an obvious dancing queen. She (indubitably a "she") is made of recycled objects, including beautiful clam shells.
Plumed flying bird

Plumed flying bird

Bird making a joyflight on its scallop wings.

Original
mixed media
10cm x 25cm x 23cm
Sold
Drib 3 (aka My Name Escapes Me)

Drib 3 (aka My Name Escapes Me)

Unique winged bird with some rabbit qualities.

Original
Paper and wire
41cm x 20cm x 21cm
Sold
Unique creature born on Johnsons Island in West London
Who took my fish!

Who took my fish!

Slightly larger than life size proud heron. Copper, galvanised and other wires.

wire
Sold
I see herons every day from my narrow boat home, waiting for the tide to go out and reveal trapped and helpless small fish and crabs in little pool traps. The Great Grey Heron - fantastic bird and somewhat maligned in suburban gardens!
Coot Walking

Coot Walking

Wire coot, suitable for indoors or out. Made of copper and galvanized steel wire.

Original
Wire
39cm x 29cm x 51cm
Sold
I am astonished by the comical look of the coot's enormous feet. In rendering a black and white bird in silver and copper wire only, I have left a lot for the viewer's eye to accommodate. I can "see" the white plate that covers the beak and lower face with no effort. Suitable for indoors or outdoors.
Heron 1

Heron 1

Garden heron, no danger to fish or frogs.

wire
Sold
Lapwing

Lapwing

Drawing in various wires attached to canvas frame. Can be hung straight on wall.

Original
Wire on canvas
30cm x 23cm
Sold
Invasion!

Invasion!

Larger than life dragonfly, commission.

wire
Sold
Blair-eyed Cormorant

Blair-eyed Cormorant

Centrepiece at book launch for "Mourning Emporium" and Cover bird for the Women's Ink anthology "Flight of Fancy".

Original
Papier mâché
54cm x 120cm x 50cm
Can be seen at Brentford Gallery
Re Blair-eyed Cormorant: I made the cormorant to be a focal point for the publishing party to launch Michelle Lovric's “The Mourning Emporium”. I like to use recycled materials in my papier mâché sculpture, and kind friends supply me with many varieties of wire and paper. The cormorant “George Blair” has a wire armature and a mixed body of pulped paper with layers of various papers and some fabric. He’s painted in acrylic. Tony Blair has kindly (though unwittingly) donated his eyes. I will leave it to the viewer to decide whether this contributes to George’s malevolent air!
Wise Raven

Wise Raven

This raven keeps a benign eye on all he surveys. He is part of a series of bird portraits - torso only.

Original
Papier mâché, wire and cherry wood
32cm x 20cm x 29cm
Sold
The raven is part of a series of bird portraits using torso only, getting to the essence of each bird's unique personality. This raven is friend to man, and has the look of a guardian angel. He doesn't exude the usual corvid haughtiness. He is on a small wooden plinth from Moss & Co, timber merchants.
Magpies

Magpies

Paper and wire magpies on wooden bases.

Original
Paper
32cm x 10cm x 26cm
Sold
Magpies looking clever, curious and inquisitive.
Robin

Robin

Britain's favourite winter bird with boatyard metal perch.

Original
Metal, wire, paper
27cm x 13cm x 17cm
Sold
Palm cockatoo - drummer

Palm cockatoo - drummer

This cool character is the only bird to use a musical instrument to attract a mate.

Mixed media with wire armature
Sold
Zoo Macaque

Zoo Macaque

Primate portrait; relief sculpture in paper pulp on canvas.

Paper
15cm x 5cm x 15cm
Sold
Our closest living relatives captured in zoos.
Orangutan - endangered species series

Orangutan - endangered species series

Relief sculpture, drawing attention to the loss of habitat and hunting of these creatures threatening their extinction.

Original
wire, plaster, papier mâché
10" x 10" x 4"
Sold
Bullseye

Bullseye

Life size English Bull Terrier with distinctive Black eye patch. Made of wire, papier mache, plaster and acrylic paint with matt varnish.

Original
wire paper and plaster
Sold
I love this dog! He is inspired by a neighbour's pet who lives by the Grand Union Canal. He is friendly, brilliant with babies and small children and very low maintenance!
Bruno

Bruno

Life size bloodhound inspired by Bruno in "Belleville Rendezvous"

Original
wire and paper
Sold
Can be seen at Brentford Gallery
Bruno is a life-size pet needing minimal maintenance. He is inspired by the bloodhound Bruno in the French animation Belleville Rendezvous. He is very proud of his teeth and has a sense of humour and endless patience. The occasional dust with a paint brush is all the grooming he requires.
Winston

Winston

Life size English Bulldog made to commission. Wire, papier mache, fimo, plaster, acrylic paint.

Original
Papier Mache
Sold
Drib 3 (aka My Name Escapes Me)

Drib 3 (aka My Name Escapes Me)

Unique winged bird with some rabbit qualities.

Original
Paper and wire
41cm x 20cm x 21cm
Sold
Unique creature born on Johnsons Island in West London
Spike

Spike

Assertive bird with unique crest.

Original
30cm x 25cm x 9cm
Sold
Spike will protect you against all harm with his specially sensitive wire plumes.
Turtle Doves

Turtle Doves

Sculpture in relief

Original
plaster, pulped paper on canvas
30cm x 25cm x 9cm
Puffin

Puffin

The delightful puffin is endangered because of climate change affecting fish stocks and predators and has dramatically declined in numbers in the UK and beyond.

Original
mosaic, papier mâché
9" x 7" x 4"
Koala - endangered species series

Koala - endangered species series

This endearing Australian marsupial is seriously endangered by habitat loss, climate change, cars and disease.
Can be seen in captivity at Longleat, Somerset

Original
wire, plaster, papier mâché
10" x 9" x 7"
Sassy - moi?

Sassy - moi?

Assertive chicken does not want to live in a cage!

Original
mixed media
11" x 5" x 4"
Sold
Gaia

Gaia

This piece evolved organically and makes me think stone, shoulder, valley, contour, recurring forms on the planet. Joyful tribute now to Susie Cooper, all potters, and Gaudi.

Original
wood, wire, papier mâché , porcelain,glass, cement, plastic
69cm x 56cm x 48cm
Sold
A tribute to the planet, its contours, the forms recurring - in humans, birds, skulls. A celebration of the makers of ceramics and a tribute to Gaudi
My name escapes me

My name escapes me

Stylized bird made of recycled objects.

Original
Papier mâché
12" x 6" x 6"
Sold
This "rabbit-bird" is made of random objects found in my studio. He seemed to suggest his own form, but he does seem to be male.
Spike

Spike

Assertive bird with unique crest.

Original
30cm x 25cm x 9cm
Sold
Spike will protect you against all harm with his specially sensitive wire plumes.
Little Hunch

Little Hunch

Heron in a hunch, reflecting on lunch, perhaps.

wire
46cm x 18cm x 23cm
Sold
Dear little hunch - a nice herony feeling about him. Can fit in quite a small display space.
Hoopoe

Hoopoe

Hoopoe made of wire and reclaimed steel from boatyard. Commission for rooftop perch.

Original
Wire and steel
Sold
Hoopoe for a London house rooftop. Firmly attached to steel moorings to prevent escape flight.
Heron

Heron

Assertive wire heron suitable for indoors or out.

Original
wire
36" x 14" x 34"
Sold
Heron made with copper and galvanized and ungalvanized steel wire. Made with respect for the heron who hunts outside my houseboat.
Cormorant

Cormorant

Drawing with various coloured wires mounted on canvas.
Can be hung on wall independently

Original
Wire on canvas
30cm x 23cm
Sold
Large black sea bird famous
Stalking heron

Stalking heron

wire and steel.
Sold
Curious Coot

Curious Coot

Inspired by the bird life on Johnsons Island.

Original
Wire and Paper
37cm x 31cm x 43cm
Sold
Can be seen at Brentford Gallery
Curious coot finds his way around his island home in West London. Can be visited by making an appointment with the artist Dianne Preston.
Rainbow lorikeet bust

Rainbow lorikeet bust

Original
Papier mâché
25cm x 12cm x 15cm
Sold
One of the delightful characters of bird life in Queensland. He shimmers with brilliant colour while watching you inquisitively.
Wren

Wren

One of the UK's smallest and best-loved birds perched on rusted boatyard steel.

Original
Papier mâché, wire and steel
28cm x 14cm x 10cm
Sold
This tiny brown bird with its pert tail tipped upright is a favourite bird of garden lovers in the UK. Common but hard to spot with its camouflaged dress and habit of fast whirring flight; it has a song that is loud, explosive and beautiful. Surprisingly so for such a little bird.
Great Tit

Great Tit

Teetering on its perch cemented at the base.

Original
mixed media
50cm x 28cm x 21cm
Sold
The largest member of the family Paridae, a big, colourful, bold and aggressive tit.
Drib 3 (aka My Name Escapes Me)

Drib 3 (aka My Name Escapes Me)

Unique winged bird with some rabbit qualities.

Original
Paper and wire
41cm x 20cm x 21cm
Sold
Unique creature born on Johnsons Island in West London
Zoo baby (orang-utan)

Zoo baby (orang-utan)

So like us!

Original
Paper pulp and wire on canvas
24cm x 24cm x 8cm
Sold
Inspired by photographic zoo portrait.
James

James

Framed chimpanzee portrait. Rescued after parents killed for bushmeat trade in Cameroon.

Original
Plaster and paper mix on canvas
38cm x 44cm x 5cm
Sold
Can be seen at Brentford Gallery
The chimpanzees have been rescued from harrowing circumstances and are now in sanctuaries. I believe human beings should treat other animals with compassion. This is based on a James Mollison book of photographic portraits.
Stitch

Stitch

Life size French bull terrier named Stitch after his alter ego.

Mixed media with wire armature
Can be seen at The WHY Gallery
Wilomena

Wilomena

Life size English Bulldog made with wire armature and papier mache with plaster and plastic clay. Acrylic paint.

Original
Papier Mache
Sold
Wilomena is a lifelike and life-sized portrait of a female British Bulldog. Wire armature and mixed media covering with acrylic paint.
Whisper

Whisper

Life size whippet made with strong wire armature, paper, Fimo,Sculptamold.

Original
mixed media
Sold
Can be seen at Brentford Gallery
Bullseye reclining

Bullseye reclining

Lifesize English Bull Terrier based on a dog in Brentford.

Original
wire, plaster, paper pulb
Sold
My name escapes me

My name escapes me

Stylized bird made of recycled objects.

Original
Papier mâché
12" x 6" x 6"
Sold
This "rabbit-bird" is made of random objects found in my studio. He seemed to suggest his own form, but he does seem to be male.
Look Up At Life

Look Up At Life

Large organic paper pulp and wire sculpture coated with mosaic of recycled china, porcelain and glass tesserae and more.
Sold in Frome

Original
wire, plaster, paper pulp
Sold
Can be seen at The WHY Gallery
This piece lived for a while with it's granite-looking paper-pulp exterior. Then I discovered mosaics and loved giving it this new incarnation - which took a long time!
Koala - endangered species series

Koala - endangered species series

Wall-hanging relief sculpture of creature whose existence is threatened by habitat loss, climate change, death by car and disease.
(Can be seen in captivity at Longleat, Somerset)

Original
wire, plaster, papier mâché
15" x 13" x 5"
Can be seen at The Silk Mill Studios
Hazel Dormouse - endangered species series

Hazel Dormouse - endangered species series

The dear local hazel dormouse spends a lot of its time curled up asleep or in a torpor covered in leaves, but is in serious danger from loss of habitat.

Original
mixed media on canvas frame.
6" x 4" x 3"
Puffin from endangered species series

Puffin from endangered species series

Who'd have thought the endearing puffin could be in peril?

7" x 5"
Sold
Puffin - part of endangered species series

Puffin - part of endangered species series

This minimalist puffin makes interesting shadows.

Original
wire, glass and wood
14" x 9" x 6"
Sold
Can be seen at The Silk Mill Studios
Orangutan - endangered species series

Orangutan - endangered species series

Relief sculpture, drawing attention to the loss of habitat and hunting of these creatures threatening their extinction.

Original
wire, plaster, papier mâché
10" x 10" x 4"
Sold