We are delighted to present the magnicent driftwood sculptures of James Doran Webb which wowed us from the first moment we set eyes upon them.

James has amassed an extensive collection of driftwood, each piece hewn by natural forces into a myriad of individual shapes. From these he is able to select the pieces which best lend themselves to the natural form and shape needed for his animal sculptures. Thousands of hours in the making, every sculpture waits until the perfect piece of wood is found to provide the energy and reality he strives to give each of his creations. The result is a dynamic collection of
work which highlights the power and vitality of all these beautiful creatures.

The sculptures are built upon a stainless steel armature to which the driftwood is then attached. The driftwood is found along the shorelines and riverbeds of the Philippines Archipelago and is from a number of indigenous species, all dense enough to withstand years and years of exposure to the extreme tropical climate. The sculptures are suitable for display indoors or out and James provides full installation and care instructions.

James has always loved antiques and has been working with wood, making models and miniature sculptures since he was a small boy. His childhood was spent in the workshops of his parents’ antiques restoration company both in the UK and in France, whittling, carving and renishing. By the time he reached his late teens he was a very competent cabinet maker; equally at home restoring heavily carved oak furniture or finely veneered Queen Anne furniture.

In 1989 James travelled to The Philippines for an extended holiday which changed his life. So smitten was he by the colourful people and their beautiful land that he chose to make it his home. Today he works from his studio in Cebu with his six assistants, all artists in their own right, who help him sort and clean the wood and weld the steel armatures. James also employs a network of driftwood gatherers throughout the Archipelago and receives tremendous support from the governors of several islands where his driftwood collecting venture provides much needed cash for the poorer shing villages. James is a great ecologist and ploughs signicant resources back into the land he loves. He has recently agreed with the Philippines Department of Environmental and Natural Resources to re- plant 16,000 indigenous species saplings and wildings over the next ve years in order to re-forest 50 hectares in the North and South of the region. Each sculpture sold helps him in this endeavour.

This talented artist, master craftsman and caring environmentalist shares his studio with three dogs, two cats and three goats. He has a wonderful affinity with the animals he sculpts which is self evident in every single piece. Enjoy!

Artworks can be purchased by clicking the individual images below.  An online catalogue can be viewed by clicking here. 

Please note that we don't have space in the gallery to display all the life-sized sculptures at one time.  If you are interesting in seeing a particular piece please do contact us before visiting to ensure we have it available for you to view. Thank you.