Micro sculptor Willard Wigan creates mini Alice in Wonderland
You have to see it to believe it - but you might need the aid of a microscope.
Record-breaking artist Willard Wigan, who was wowed fans across the globe with his incredible creations, has been at it again by making a pin-sized Alice in Wonderland.
World famous micro sculptor Willard, aged 61, from Wednesfield,took 450 hours over three and a half weeks to chisel the stunning figurine, which has eyes smaller than a red blood cell.
Willard, who has autism, has even been honoured by the Queen for his services to the art world, and has also broken world records. His mind-boggling creations are so small they can fit through the eye of a needle.
Now he has unveiled his latest work which will go on display in Sutton Coldfield later this year.
Once placed under the microscope, a minute Alice can be seen stood in her famous blue and white dress with one hand leant against the inside of the eye of a needle. It may well be visitors who are in Wonderland when they see this latest creation.
Some of his previous creations include a minuscule Wolves badge and, in another nod to his Black Country roots, he has also made a mini Noddy Holder.
After revealing his latest work, Willard said: “My work is very unusual for a lot of people.
"My latest is Alice in the eye of a needle and she is looking very confused.
"The sculpture is smaller than a full stop in a newspaper."
Willard has always been interested in small figures and when he was five he created houses for ants.
He said: “My mum gave encouragement and said if you go smaller and your name will get much much bigger.
"It turned into an obsession.
“It’s a lesson. It has made me realise that we underestimate people with learning differences.
"Most people think they don’t have anything to show or to prove or to achieve, but I am a testimony of what can be achieved.”
Willard, who grew up on the Ashmore Park estate, also memorably created a mini Madam Tussauds, featuring an array of famous celebrities as well as a miniature version of the Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe, featuring 25 children well as the old woman, wearing tiny glasses.
The artist was given an MBE for his services to art by the Queen in 2007. She had asked him to create a microscopic version of her coronation crown.
