People across the UK have been celebrating the Platinum Jubilee in various ways. From patriotic parties to street art in honour of the monarchy, Brits have been getting into the royal spirit. One artist has honoured the Queen in their own, unique way by creating the “tiniest biggest tribute.”
A micro-sculptor has fashioned a tiny model of the Queen’s Coronation Carriage so small it can fit inside the eye of a needle. Dr Willard Wigan painstakingly crafted the 200-part artwork under a microscope. The 65-year-old told PA: “This is the tiniest biggest tribute of all time for Her Majesty the Queen.” Dr Wigan, who was honoured with an MBE for services to art in 2007, now wishes to take the royal sculpture on a nationwide tour. He previously created a 24-carat-gold crown for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
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(Image: PA Media)
Speaking of his previous project, the artist said: “It was the proudest moment of my life but I’ve evolved and moved on since. I’ve improved, I’ve got so much better. I almost work as though my life depends upon it. Having autism has given me a superpower to be able to do things other people can’t do.”
Dr Wigan grew up in Wolverhampton and is no based in the West Midlands. He was diagnosed with autism at 50-year-old which he described as a blessing in disguise, in terms of his life’s work.
He told PA: “My mother would tell me that autism is a diamond in a dustbin because humanity has a habit of throwing things away. And then all of a sudden the lid comes off the dustbin and they realise what was in there. So I’m using this now as a message to humanity and a celebration to Her Majesty the Queen.
(Image: PA Media)
“This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my whole life. I think I need counselling now after doing this coach. But it’s taught me one thing – it’s taught me to train my attention span. I’ve learned that I have to make a statement with what I do.”
He added: “We under-estimate things we can’t see… we disregard the small world. Just because you can’t see something don’t mean it don’t exist.”
To create the coach, Dr Wigan worked for 17 hours per day for weeks. Speaking of his project, he said it was like: “trying to put a pin through a bubble without bursting the bubble.”
The artist also created a tiny model of Queen Elizabeth when she was younger. To make the piece, Dr Wigan painted with an eyelash fashioned to the end of a needle. Previously, he also crafted the smallest BMX bike and an Albert Einstein tribute.
A fitting tribute to the Queen’s tireless 70-year reign, Dr Wigan admitted the detailed carriage wore him out. He said: “I finished about five or six days ago – I didn’t think I would finish it in time. I could sleep for England. But the glory is at the end.
“I must admit I hate doing this work but I know what it does. I know the impact it has on people. I’ve seen people walk out with their jaws in wheelbarrows when they see my work because it blows their heads off – it blows their minds. And that’s when I get my pleasure, off other people seeing it.”
Got a story you think we should write? Get in touch beth.gulliver@reachplc.com.
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I’m Beth, a News Reporter for MyLondon, covering anything from TV and crime to human interest stories, with a particular focus on health causes. I’ve been nominated for an NCTJ Award for Excellence in the Data category.
Three stories I’ve worked on in the past month that I’m proud of are:
‘I just feel like screaming’: ‘Healthy’ woman, 28, can’t even leave her bed after being hit by paralysis, seizures, and memory loss
Woman, 38, fighting for her and baby’s life after pregnancy ‘side effect’ turns out to be cervical cancer
‘I was in so much pain I slept upright in a chair but was told I had to wait eight months for surgery’
I’m currently based near Hampstead but I’ll write about any area of the best place in the world. It’s been a dream of mine since I was tiny to live in London and I’m so grateful I get to call this hustling, bustling city my home.
Got a story? You can email me at beth.gulliver@reachplc.com or DM me on Twitter @bethgulliver1.
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