Fire and Light

16/06/2026

16/06/2026

The Splendid Blue Wren is really starting to come to life now.

With the steelwork complete and the glass selected, the focus has shifted to fitting the individual pieces that will create the vibrant colours this little bird is known for. Every section of glass reacts differently to sunlight, so a lot of time goes into choosing colours that work together while still capturing the character of the Blue Wren.

One of the things I enjoy most about these commissions is watching them transform from a collection of steel and glass components into a recognisable piece of garden art.

Please do see him live at Little Marney’s Gifts for Town & Country

15/06/2026

Meet the finished Splendid Blue Wren.

This sculpture was inspired by one of Australia's most recognisable and colourful native birds. Crafted from steel and stained glass, each piece of glass was carefully selected to capture the brilliant blues, warm browns and soft tones that make the Blue Wren so distinctive.

The sandstone base complements the natural feel of the sculpture, while the stained glass comes alive as sunlight passes through it, creating different colours and reflections throughout the day.

I enjoy creating pieces that celebrate the beauty of our native wildlife, and this little fellow has quickly become one of my favourites.

It has found its new home at Little Marney’s Gifts for Town & Country, definitely a place to visit and enjoy all the wonderful things on display.

15/06/2026

The Splendid Blue Wren is finally complete.

This sculpture has been a joy to create, from shaping the steel framework through to selecting and fitting each individual piece of stained glass. The colours were carefully chosen to capture the vibrant beauty of one of Australia's most iconic little birds.

As with all stained glass sculptures, the appearance changes throughout the day as the sunlight moves across the glass, creating different colours, reflections and highlights.

I'm very pleased with how this one has turned out and I think it will make a striking feature in its new home at Little Marney’s Gifts for Town & Country.

What do you think of the colour selection?

If you'd like to see more of my work, visit:
https://fireandlight.net.au

13/06/2026

The final stages have begun on my latest Blue Wren sculpture.

This is the point where all the individual pieces start coming together and the sculpture begins to take on its personality. The steel framework is complete, the glass colours have been selected, and the fitting process is now underway.

It's always interesting to see how different the glass looks once it's placed into the sculpture. The colours and textures that worked well on the workbench suddenly come alive when viewed as part of the finished design.

There's still plenty of work ahead, but it's exciting to finally see this little Blue Wren emerging from the workshop.

10/06/2026

Winter has definitely arrived in Tasmania. The workshop is a little colder these days, but a good playlist, a welding arc glowing bright, and a project taking shape make it a pretty good place to be.

There's something satisfying about transforming raw steel into something that will eventually bring colour, light and character to a garden. This is a small glimpse behind the scenes of where it all begins.

🔥 Fire & Light Artisan Blacksmith
🌐 fireandlight.net.au

06/06/2026

The glass is cut and ready for the next stage of the Blue Wren sculpture.

Little Marney's selected eight different colours for this commission, giving me a much larger palette to work with than usual. For comparison, the Dragonfly, Bee and Highland Coo sculptures each used just four colours.

It's always exciting to see the individual pieces laid out like this. Right now they look like a collection of coloured shapes, but before long they'll come together to create something truly special.

There are some beautiful blues, browns and dark tones in this mix, and I can't wait to see them installed in the finished sculpture.

04/06/2026

The Blue Wren is coming along nicely and I’m very happy with how he’s turning out.

While the stained glass and steelwork get most of the attention, there’s an important stage that often goes unseen — making sure the sculpture is protected from the elements for years to come.

This Blue Wren will now go through the full weatherproofing process:
✔ Sand blasted
✔ Etch primed
✔ Two coats of enamel paint

Taking the time to properly prepare and protect the steel is just as important as creating the sculpture itself.

Stay tuned — the next update will be even more colourful.