Jose Heroys

About Jose Heroys

I am a British fibre artist making bird sculptures and art from my studio in the heart of rural Sussex.

The inspiration for my work comes from a life-long love of birds, which began in childhood watching the antics of sparrows in our garden. I’m still happily obsessed, and birds of all kinds remain an endless source of joy and fascination for me.

With each sculpture, I try to convey a sense of the character and energy of the bird, as well as the emotional response we have to it. I make each one by hand, a process that takes several days for a small bird and a few weeks for the largest owls.

Working from field observations and photographs, the main structural form is crocheted using carefully selected natural yarns like wool, silk and mohair.  Fine details are then added using needle-felt and embroidery techniques, and every bird is fitted with a uniquely numbered, year-coded leg-ring to identify it.

The finished bird is tactile, and conveys something of what it feels like to hold a real one in your hand.

I love bringing these birds to life and I hope they make you smile.