A stunning new artwork featuring Oxfordshire's rare county flower, carved from ancient oak wood, is set to be completed this weekend in the village of Ducklington. The sculpture depicts a snake's head fritillary, the distinctive county flower of Oxfordshire, and represents months of meticulous handcraft work by artist Natasha Houseago.
Houseago, who has served as the artist in residence in Ducklington since July, has been dedicating one to two days per week working on what she describes as a "fantastic ancient piece of oak." The artwork will be officially completed during a special event at Bartholomew Park in Ducklington on Saturday, marking the culmination of her residency project.
"I am mainly a hand carver so it's slowly evolved over the months," Houseago explained, describing her patient approach to the creation. The sculpture has been crafted from a piece of local oak that fell during a storm, giving new life to the ancient wood through artistic transformation. The artist spent considerable time studying the fritillary flower in detail, using a field microscope to capture its unique characteristics.
"I looked at fritillaries in great detail, I had my field microscope and I thought they are absolutely perfect in a sense," Houseago said of the flowers that inspired her work. "It's a very strong sculptural flower and I love the idea that the fritillary was known to be a symbol of peace and resilience and that just felt really apt in these difficult times."
The sculpture incorporates several additional artistic elements beyond the central fritillary design. Depictions of swans have been carved into the piece, and a small cavity has been created to house clay insects made by local children. According to Houseago, these clay creatures will be hidden inside the sculpture, which will "bring the carving to life" and create a "magical process" for viewers.
The community engagement aspect has been a significant part of the project's appeal for the artist. "It's a very lovely thing to have been slowly carving it, and the locals have been able to see it slowly evolve," Houseago noted. Throughout her residency, she has had the opportunity to meet and interact with local residents while working on the piece, creating a shared experience around the artwork's development.
This sculpture will serve as one component of a larger artistic initiative in the area. The piece is commissioned by the local parish council and will become part of a trail of artworks set to open to the public next year, creating a cultural pathway for visitors and residents to explore.
The completion event on Saturday at Bartholomew Park will mark not only the finish of this particular artwork but also celebrate the successful collaboration between the artist, the community, and local officials in bringing public art to Ducklington. The project demonstrates how traditional craftsmanship can be combined with community involvement to create meaningful cultural landmarks that honor both local natural heritage and artistic expression.
