Meet metal magician turning throw-away items into art

Knives forks and spoons are selected, sorted and bundled neatly on the work surface. The planning and preparation for this place setting isn't for a meal and it is certainly no picnic, for Darrell Olsen spends hours creating his cutlery sculptures.

- by Harriet Sutton

Within his purpose-built workshop, Darrell painstakingly shapes, grinds, sands, welds and polishes recycled stainless steel and metal into beautiful bespoke pieces for the home and garden.

The Kippax home he shares with his wife Vicky is a showcase for his art trail.

Beginning in the hallway, the ornate stag's head-Darrell's latest design as he ventures further into wall art - features antlers fabricated from intricately cut and welded tent tubes.

Mounted on a beautifully shaped piece of wood, crafted by his woodworking pals, Darrell's latest art work is competition ready - created for submission to Art Unlimited, the independent art gallery in Bridport, Dorset, where he has been showcasing his work for two years.

More of Darrell's designs come to life in the living room. The elegant angel candle holder, her wings, re-shaped and re-purposed from catering trays, are outstretched from her pepper pot body.

"Somebody asked me if I could make an angel," says Darrell. Vicky loved it so much he made one for their home. It was Vicky's encouragement that led Darrell to set up Olsen Metal Art eight years ago.