Bloodline: The Making of a Legacy

This project began with a chance meeting with the team at Dartmoor Zoo, just as their Amur leopard pair, Freddo and Lena, were expecting a cub. A rare and significant moment, not only for the zoo, but for a species on the very edge of survival. It called for something lasting. A life-size bronze of Freddo became the response: a sculpture to stand beside his enclosure from May to September, before being auctioned to raise funds for the WildCats Conservation Alliance, supporting Amur leopards and tigers in the wild.

Finished bronze of Freddo: Bloodline

I was able to spend extended time with Freddo, observing his character and presence at close range. This offered a rare opportunity to gather first-hand reference from subtle behaviours to precise proportions, and to understand something beyond form alone. From these studies, the process began with sketching and quiet observation, searching for a balance between realism and meaning. The composition settled into a measured forward step: Freddo’s left paw lifted, his head lowered, his gaze fixed. A moment of movement, held in tension.

A reference of Freddo during a research trip in 2025

Then the armature was built to carry the weight, and clay followed, first loose and instinctive, then gradually refined. Form emerged slowly, but the head demanded the most; an open jaw and focused expression that took weeks to resolve.

Clay original of Freddo

When the sculpture reached completion in clay, the process shifted from creation to translation. Layers of silicone were applied to capture every detail, divided carefully into sections before being encased in a rigid fibreglass jacket. In total, the mould was broken into 28 parts; a complex, time-intensive stage that ultimately transforms something temporary into something enduring.

Moulding the first coat of silicone over the clay original

Once removed, the original clay falls away, leaving the mould as the only record of the piece. Each section is then cold cast in bronze, resin infused with bronze powder, before being reassembled and meticulously refined, erasing seams and restoring continuity. It is a process of reconstruction as much as creation.

The sculpture divided with 'shims' determining where the mould splits

The final stage is where the sculpture truly finds its voice. The patina brings depth and atmosphere; a traditional bronze finish with darker recesses subtly echoing Freddo’s markings. The eyes are brought to life with the distinctive green-blue of the Amur leopard, a focal point of presence and intent. A final layer of wax seals the surface, completing the piece.

Finished bronze of Freddo: Bloodline

Bloodline is more than a portrait. It reflects the fragile lineage of the Amur leopard, a species where each individual carries the weight of survival. The forward step speaks to that burden: a movement into an uncertain future, yet one that must be taken.

The power of one. The triumph of many. The bloodline endures.

Finished bronze of Freddo: Bloodline