Bowie - Back In Market Square

We talk to the artist who will bring a stunning tribute to the starman to buckinghamshire later this year. Steve Cohen reports.

- Steve Cohen

ACCLAIMED sculptor Andrew Sinclair thought his best days in Bucks were behind him when the threat of HS2 forced him to move away from the county two years ago. Andrew had built up a glittering reputation over almost two decades in Wendover. But, in December 2014 he moved lock, stock and barrel to Devon after learning the high-speed rail network was due to come within a stone’s throw of his studio.

So it’s a mixture of joy and amazement for him that he will shortly be returning in glory to show the world the first life-size statue of David Bowie, sited in Aylesbury’s Market Square. Andrew has won the commission to sculpt the iconic piece of art following an epic crowd-funding campaign that raised an incredible £115,000 in just over a month. All the cash has come from the public, either companies or individuals, and no taxpayers’ money is involved.

In all, 747 people pledged support. Almost 500 of these were from the UK, with a surprising 250 contributing from abroad including 125 from the USA, and others as far afield as Australia, Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Spain and Ireland. Eight backers, a mixture of individuals and companies, gave the maximum £6,000 each.

“I am absolutely ecstatic that people have shown so much faith in this project and my ability to create this tribute to David Bowie,” said the 55-year-old. “I was really sad to leave Buckinghamshire two years ago, but the move to new studios in Devon was just too good to ignore.