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Sculptor Sean Hedges-Quinn, of Great Bricett near Ipswich, on his work producing Ipswich Town statues and forging Hollywood creations for James Bond, Harry Potter and Rings of Power




Sculptor Sean Hedges-Quinn has forged a legacy that will span generations.

From working on cinematic blockbusters like Harry Potter and James Bond, to iconic statues outside football stadiums and even Thomas the Tank Engine, his work carries an emotional connection for many.

As a massive film and Lord of the Rings fan, I was eager to meet the man who is currently working on the latest entry in the franchise The Rings of Power, as well as Game of Thrones’ House of the Dragon.

Sean Hedges-Quinn has worked for many films including Harry Potter, James Bond and V for Vendetta to name just a few. Pictures by Cameron Reid
Sean Hedges-Quinn has worked for many films including Harry Potter, James Bond and V for Vendetta to name just a few. Pictures by Cameron Reid

Sean did not disappoint.

I was also desperate to ask him if he thought Peter Jackson’s trilogy was the best of all time. I can confirm he agreed with me.

Sean, who currently lives in Great Bricett, grew up in Ipswich and always had wanted his career to revolve around art and films.

Sean trying to look casual while standing next to a dragon he was creating for Reign of Fire in 2002. Picture: Sean Hedges-Quinn
Sean trying to look casual while standing next to a dragon he was creating for Reign of Fire in 2002. Picture: Sean Hedges-Quinn

After multiple years of struggling to find something along the lines of what he wanted, which was mainly with special effects and animatronics, he then went to University Campus St Albans, aged 25, to do model-making. He hasn’t looked back since.

“I still love sculpting the same as when I first started. It’s very versatile and broad and I just absolutely love it,” Sean said.

“Every statue is a challenge because although it is about getting that likeness to a certain degree, to make a statue truly great you've got to capture their personality. It gives them depth and I enjoy that challenge.

This is a rather unique ear that was used in the 1996 music video for Hero of the Day by Metallica. You can go on YouTube to see how the ear was used...
This is a rather unique ear that was used in the 1996 music video for Hero of the Day by Metallica. You can go on YouTube to see how the ear was used...

“I can go from sculpting a little mini figure to doing a 120-foot dragon to Thomas the Tank Engine faces. You don't know what the next job could be, you never get bored and it’s never-ending.”

After graduating in 1995, it was a very busy time in the film industry with the likes of Saving Private Ryan and Lost in Space being made, and Sean was immediately thrust into working on The Borrowers for six months as a prop-maker and then Lost in Space for six months.

He particularly enjoyed his time as head sculptor for Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends between 2002 and 2008, where he was responsible for the creation of the faces and figurines.

Sean was head sculptor on the famous Thomas The Tank Engine series for five seasons and was responsible for designing and sculpting practically all new characters during that period
Sean was head sculptor on the famous Thomas The Tank Engine series for five seasons and was responsible for designing and sculpting practically all new characters during that period

Sean spent a lot of time in London and went from one film to the next all the way until 2012, where he stepped away from filmwork to spend more time with his wife, Hayley, and their three children Niamh, Ryan and Joseph.

He said: “I used to do a lot of hours, like 15 hours a day, because I was enjoying it and I was being paid to make sculpted aliens, spaceships and stuff like that so it was a bit of a dream really.

“I wasn't seeing my kids enough though and I wanted to see them growing up so although I loved my film work I loved my kids more, so that's why I started doing statues.”

It means Sean has been working from home for over a decade now at his workshop, focusing more on statues.

He has impressed with his statues of many notable football icons including Sir Alfred Ramsey, Sir Bobby Robson and Kevin Beattie who are all outside Portman Road.

He said: “I’ve got stuff that will be around for like a thousand years after I’m gone and people will be touching my statue's feet forever outside the stadium.

“As a Town fan so I'm very proud they are outside the ground of the club I love and my hometown so that's really wonderful.

“My kids have said to me they’re going to take my grandchildren to all my statues around the country, and I have ones from Southampton to Scotland, so that was really sweet and I’m kind of leaving a legacy which feels like a very nice thing.”

While at his workshop, I felt privileged as Sean showed me models of his past work and he revealed he often does several months of research beforehand on the subjects of the statues.

These can then go on to take around nine to 12 months to completely finish work on one.

“I'm a perfectionist. Some statues are easier than others but when I do one I tend to bite off more than I can chew maybe,” he said.

“I’m known for my attention to detail such as clothing which is quite a difficult thing to do but I'm also known for movement in my statutes.

Sean with the witches featured in the film Clash of the Titans in 2010. Picture: Sean Hedges-Quinn
Sean with the witches featured in the film Clash of the Titans in 2010. Picture: Sean Hedges-Quinn

“Quite often you can just have one standing which is quite easy but mine are running or jumping, like my Kevin Beattie one which was very challenging.

“Also, when people are smiling and making expressions that makes life very difficult, compared to if they have their mouths closed.

“The Romans and Greeks never had their statues with their mouths open and 95 per cent of the time their mouths are closed because teeth are very difficult to do and are time consuming.”

After explaining this in detail, I was able to get a better understanding of just how good Sean is at his job and why he has been so successful over the past couple of decades.

This strange mask, containing features of a crab, stingray and more, was used in Just Visiting, a film that came out in 2002
This strange mask, containing features of a crab, stingray and more, was used in Just Visiting, a film that came out in 2002

It led me to ask how he dealt with being around the star-studded cast of the likes of Harry Potter and James Bond and other great films he’s been involved in such as V for Vendetta, The Phantom of the Opera and Reign of Fire.

He said: “Obviously, meeting loads of famous people is great whether it’s Daniel Craig, Keanu Reeves, Emma Watson or Kate Winslet.

“They can come into the set workshop and ask us questions, or try on costumes, or play with swords or whatever.

“When I was younger, I was very professional as I was conscious I couldn’t just ask for autographs and hassle them but now I’m older I’ve realised I met as well get an autograph if I want.”

Sean also said the Prisoner of Azkaban was his favourite film of the Harry Potter franchise - which again, is the correct answer in my opinion.

So apologies to all of you wizarding fans out there who disagree, there’s no reason to get moody and I’m not talking Mad-Eye (if you know, you know).

Sean also has a new statue commission for Roy Hudd coming up, which is to be placed outside the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds.

The comedian, actor and presenter died in March 2020 and his widow, Debbie has launched a campaign to raise money for the statue in his memory.

According to Debbie, Roy loved the Theatre Royal and worked there many times with his One Man Show, Goodnight Mister Tom and even hosted the Theatre Royal’s 200th birthday in 2019.

Sean previously met Roy in Rochdale and said: “He was a really lovely guy and was very sweet to my family, which I've never forgotten.

“I've read his autobiography and learnt a lot about him from a boy all the way to the day he died.

So I’ll use all of that as well as what he did and what he achieved to try and put that all into a statue.”

Two of Sean’s favourite statues from his long career include Kevin Beattie as well as Captain Mainwaring from the popular TV series Dad’s Army, which was erected in Thetford in 2010.

So I’ll use all of that as well as what he did and what he achieved to try and put that all into a statue.”

However, two of his favourite statues include Kevin Beattie as well as Captain Mainwaring from the popular TV series Dad’s Army, which was erected in Thetford in 2010.

Sean said: “I love the Captain Mainwaring one. That was a big moment for me because that was a big breakaway from football, where I was doing many footballers and managers.

Sean enjoyed working on Captain Mainwaring from Dad's Army as it was a nice change of pace from the footballer statues he had been working on. Picture: Sean Hedges-Quinn
Sean enjoyed working on Captain Mainwaring from Dad's Army as it was a nice change of pace from the footballer statues he had been working on. Picture: Sean Hedges-Quinn

“It was a wonderful opportunity and that comes up on my news feed all the time, with people sitting next to it.

“But overall, I’m really proud of all my work, lots of my stuff is instantly recognisable by most British people.

“My family are proud of me and even my art teachers at Westbourne Academy who used to teach me and I keep in contact with, are proud of me too, so that’s very sweet of them and it makes me feel pretty good too.”

“I am truly apprecaitve of the help I’ve had from the teachers as well as my family, as I certainly wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing if it wasn’t for them and their support.”