Work by Sarah Francis Mae was unveiled in a new sculpture park at Silverstone ahead of the British Grand Prix.
The sculpture park is located at Escapade Silverstone, the circuit’s new hospitality development at the track. The venue at Silverstone is also an international art gallery, with works by both influential and upcoming artists who either have a link with automotive sector or who love motorsports and F1.
Sarah is one of the British sculpture artists involved in the inaugural collection, which features a knight and a horse made entirely of car parts.
Sarah started welding as a teenager , learning from her dad. She learnt throughout high school and college but reveals she could not progress in the field of work as the teachers simply couldn’t teach it.
Sarah said: “It all started when I saw my dad throwing away car parts that were broken or worn out and thought I could make something from it all, long before I knew what welding was. And my dad gave me a five-second welding lesson, ‘here’s a welder, here’s a grinder, crack on!’. And I was away.
“I also tend to use retired tools that have been donated to me, a lot of my dad’s customers are retired engineers or that kind of field and have a shed or garage full of tools and donate them to me.
“What I like most about my work, some of the tools given to me have people’s initials stamped into them. It meant something to someone, now it is just seen as scrap. But, what I like to do is have their memory live on, if an initial is on the tool, I will weld it into position so it’s on view.”
The Knight is an 8ft tall sculpture made from a variety of mechanical parts and car parts, retired tools and sheet steel, his sword and crown have been hand forged by Sarah with the help of a local blacksmith Morris Blacksmithing.
Sarah said: “The sword was the first thing I ever forged. My partner Marc Morris from Morris Blacksmithing Limited, collaborated and showed me the ropes of blacksmithing. Like most of my work, I don’t go by halves!
“The first ever sculpture I made ‘Rusty’ was a life-sized horse, so as you can imagine the first thing I wanted to forge was of course a 5ft long sword, my arms certainly paid for it. Also, his helmet and crown was also forged.”
Meanwhile, Enzo is a horse sculpture made from mechanical parts and car parts and retired tools. It is inspired by the Ferrari Logo, ‘the prancing horse’ at stands at over 10ft tall.
Sarah said: “Enzo actually has some of my dad’s uncle’s initials stamped into him. His mane and tail are car road springs cut up, mimicking the wind playing with his hair.
“Due to other commitments and projects, I don’t tend to stick on just one project, so time on Enzo and The Knights were spread over a course of around three months each.”
Sarah added: “Seeing my work amongst well-known artists such and Holly Hickmore, Michael Turner and many artists I’ve followed through social media for years, I feel very honoured and amazed to have my work considered to be on such prestigious grounds.”
Curated and managed by the circuit’s art director Renata Fernandes, the rotating art gallery showcases and sells a diverse collection of contemporary art, featuring the works of both established and emerging artists with a passion towards or a link to motorsports.
Escapade Silverstone art director, Renata said: “Launching Silverstone’s first sculpture park is a huge honour and responsibility for me, I am in awe of the artworks we have on-site, at Escapade Silverstone this British Grand Prix and proud of Sarah for being one of the first British sculpture artists to join us.
“Sarah started when she was only 16 years old and is still very young, she deserves all recognition.”
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