Flexible approach to creating artwork

From the Kidderminster Shuttle, first published Monday 19th Feb 2007.

A KIDDERMINSTER firm which is supplying moulds for the latest Harry Potter film has been giving practical help to a county sculptor.

Rowland Way-based Bentley Creative Chemicals, has been helping Caro Sweet get to grips with her latest bronze work, called "Rider".

Mrs Sweet, who creates sculptures at her Bransford workshop, near Worcester, contacted the firm last year after she was inspired to create an object after watching the movement of fern leaves in the wind.

"It was the movement which caught my eye, looking like a bucking bronco," she said.

"I'd been looking for a company which would be able to create moulds more pleasant to use because the ones I was then working with were traditional but didn't smell nice and I wanted something to do a better job."

The sculptor contacted Bentley, which sent its technical manager Rob Price to her workshop, and advised Mrs Sweet on which mould materials to use.

"He did a demonstration and then talked me through different techniques of using materials in a cast which gave a much better finish."

Mr Price recommended a rubber moulding material which would not shrink like the castings Mrs Sweet had been working with.

"The mould had fewer sections, fewer seams and didn't flop around as much," she added.

Bentley, set up in 1978 by marketing and sales director Peter Turnock, started out manufacturing figurines but has been supplying castings to the film and television industry, including both Pinewood and Shepperton studios.

Mr Turnock said: "Rob Price went in and really changed the way she did things and gave her much more flexibility. We're doing increasing amounts of artwork and our products are seen around the world."

The firm's work has appeared on the sets of BBC medical drama Casualty, Band of Brothers and Batman Begins.

Mrs Sweet's finished sculpture, Rider', will be on display at the Birmingham Open Art Show, Gas Hall, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, until April 29.

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