How I Turn Recycled Materials into Colourful Metal Sculptures
How I Turn Recycled Materials into Colourful Metal Sculptures
There’s something powerful about giving discarded materials a new life. As a sculptor working primarily in metal, I’ve always been drawn to recycled parts whether it’s old car panels, cogs, gears, or industrial offcuts because they come with their own textures, colours, and stories. The result? One-of-a-kind colourful sculptures that blend sustainability with striking visual impact.
Carousel Horse Sculpture, 2021
Where it all began
I started sculpting when I was 13. My dad taught me how to weld, and I quickly became hooked. I began building small creatures out of scrap metal dogs, crabs, anything I could imagine using old machine parts and whatever I could find. That early experience of working with found materials shaped my approach to sculpture today.
Over time, I moved toward creating pieces from scratch, focusing more on emotion and form than material. But in recent years, I’ve returned to recycled materials in a new way through the use of car body panels to create contemporary metal sculptures that feel both grounded and bold.
Flaring Horse Sculpture, 2022
Why Car Panels?
It began with horses. As a recurring subject in my work, they felt like the perfect bridge between past and present the original “engines” of transport. Making metal horse sculptures from cars felt symbolic, a full-circle moment.
But what drew me in most was the colour.
I wanted to create a new collection of colourful metal sculptures using original car paint blues, reds, yellows, greens to bring energy and texture into the work. My vision was a portfolio of pieces that felt bold, joyful, and full of character.
The challenge? Sourcing colourful panels.
Most of today’s cars are grey, black, or white. And while that might suit a clean aesthetic, it left me wondering where has all the colour gone? It’s something I’ve noticed across many sectors: a shift towards minimal, neutral, and often soulless design. I fear it’s creating a world that feels increasingly flat and characterless.
My hope is that we break out of that filter that we celebrate more colour, variety, and joy. Sculpture, like all art, can be a response to the world around us. And my response is to make work that’s unapologetically vibrant.
Carse Horse Sculpture PhotoShoot
The Process of Creating Outdoor Metal Sculptures
Each sculpture begins with a steel armature that forms the structure. Then I weld each piece of car panel into place shaping them one by one to follow the contours of the body or figure. I don’t repaint them I let the original colours and textures speak.
This process is especially suited to outdoor metal sculptures, as the materials are already made to weather the elements. The result is work that is bold, expressive, and built to last deal for public spaces, gardens, or as statement pieces for collectors.
Figure Sculpture, 2021
What’s Next?
My aim now is to build a collection of vibrant outdoor sculptures in various sizes and subjects from horses and bulls to abstract figurative forms. Each piece celebrates colour, craft, and the potential of discarded materials.
In a world of mass production, my hope is to remind people that there’s still space for character, imperfection, and joy. If you’d like to see more, you can explore my sculpture range here. or get in touch to commission a bespoke piece.
If you’ve made it this far you’re a legend. Thanks for reading and supporting what I do.
Now for the surprise I promised…
I was originally planning to keep the original Flaring Horse sculpture in my private collection, since I have bronze editions available (which go for £7,500). But I’ve decided to do something a bit special.
As a thank-you for reading this blog and following along, I’m offering the original one-of-one Flaring Horse for £9,000 exclusively to you my champion ( my loyal Reader). It's the piece that started this whole direction in my work , full of colour, motion, and story.
If you'd like to own it or know someone who might just drop me an email on Info@ollieholman.com or go to my contact page. Code Word Is Champions Price Flaring horse :)
First come, first served.
Many thanks
Ollie