I read “The Wind in the Willows” over 10 years ago, and yet it was only in the last couple of years that I started to move it into sculpture.

Making sculpture is a journey of discovery, as was Mole's move to the riverbank. On Mole's journey, he introduces us to a host of characters, including Mr. Toad.

My preoccupation has always been with Mole, who is an unassuming character, yet the narrative thread of “The Wind in the Willows.” He was the first sculpture completed.

Toad, the second sculpture in the series, is the opposite of mole, being bombastic and arrogant. The piece is based on the time when he first encounters a car, and having been dislodged from his wagon, sits in the middle of the road, somewhat despondent “At intervals he was still heard to murmur “Poop-poop!” Interestingly, this is one of the few scenes that appear in all of “The Wind in the Willows” movies, being the commencement for Toad's adventure in mischief.

The third sculpture is Badger:

He [Badger] had probably been on his way to bed when their summons sounded.
The Badger, who wore a long dressing-gown, and whose slippers were indeed very down at heel, carried a flat candlestick in his paw and had probably been on his way to bed when their summons sounded. He looked kindly down on them and patted both their heads. `This is not the sort of night for small animals to be out,' he said paternally. `I'm afraid you've been up to some of your pranks again, Ratty. But come along; come into the kitchen. There's a first-rate fire there, and supper and everything.'