Chainsaw wood sculptor unveils majestic stag at RHS Tatton Flower Show

Andy Burgess unveiled his biggest ever animal wood carving at the RHS Flower Show in Tatton Park – home to two herds of wild deer, red and fallow.

The Mobberley craftsman spent more than 80 hours breathing life into big pieces of discarded dead wood.

Self-taught Andy, 50, said: “It was a case of taking your time.

Andy Burgess unveils his magnificent stag at the RHS Tatton Flower Show (Image: Newsquest)

“I used very large oak logs and a fork lift.

“To measure a real stag would be really difficult.

“I had done a stag in bronze for a lady in Cheshire and asked if I could measure that to get some dimensions.

“I worked from lots of photographs and images from the internet.”

Andy, who became a wood artist 15 years ago, was inspired after completing a stag’s head with antlers for Toft Cricket Club in Knutsford.

“I thought I’d like to make a full size one for Tatton,” he said.

“I had to be very careful with the measurements and cuts and then join pieces together to make the animal.

Working with chainsaws and power tools is hazardous and demands physical strength and total concentration.

Large oak logs ready to be carved (Image: Andy Burgess)

“It’s like all my jobs, working with a chainsaw, you’ve only got one go," he said.

“There’s no room for mistakes.

"You have to have your wits about you every second, you can't switch off."

Andy transforms windblown, diseased and fallen trees into carvings of various animals, birds and figures.

Once the mighty eight-foot tall creature took shape, he began the finishing touches.

The stag taking shape outside Andy's barn (Image: Andy Burgess)

“To get the colour, it was a case of burning it hard with a blow torch so that it goes very dark,” said Andy.

“I picked out the highlights with acrylic spray paints.

“You never get oak to match spot on, so there is a bit of artistic licence.

“It is not atomically correct but I’m pleased with the end result.”

Andy was the first chainsaw wood sculptor to exhibit at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2013.

“Chelsea was really unbelievable,” said Andy.

“I did commissions for Alan Titchmarsh and Dame Judi Dench and established links with Chris Beardshaw and Nick Beardshaw.

“I definitely want to go back.

“I am fortunate that I am very busy throughout the year with private commissions.

“But now that Tatton isn’t going to be here for two years it has given me freedom to explore some of the other RHS shows.”