SCULPTOR Derek Mosey could perhaps be described as Saltburn's very own wicker man.

The former draughtsman who once fled a chicken factory now creates striking work from willow.

Some of his pieces formed part of the Saltburn in Bloom competition, of which the winners were announced this week (see page 3).

This spectacular willow horse greeted visitors entering the town at Marske Road. Nearby was another sculpture of a fisherman pushing a boat. Other works were dotted around the town.

Mr Mosey, 30, of Eden Street, also uses driftwood and recycled natural materials. He is based at Saltburn Artists' Studios and lives with partner Helen Gaunt, an illustrator.

"I was brought up in Brotton and moved here five years ago. There's quite a good artists' community at Saltburn," he told the D&S Times.

"I've no formal art college training. I became interested in sculpture after making replica medieval objects, leather goods and furniture for the Rosa Mundi re-enactment society at Redcar. Those objects had to be highly accurate but sculpture is less strict."

After leaving school, he became a trainee draughtsman for the Wadkins firm at Liverton Mines, then worked in a chicken factory at Haworth, in West Yorkshire, the Pennine mill town where the Brontes once lived.

"I took the job because it was a lovely area, like here. But I couldn't handle the chicken job," he quipped.

Other work has been commissioned for the Tees Forest project and for Preston Park, Eaglescliffe. He has also painted colourful murals and hopscotch patterns at schools.