While baskets and twig furniture are the most common form of willow sculpture, there are artists using willow's flexible rods for purposes other than function. By annually coppicing the plants known as basketry willows, you can insure an abundant production of rods for magnificent sculptures such as shown and listed here.

this striking sculpture by Patrick Doherty is in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA

Be careful not to confuse living willow sculpture (hence I refer to this as building living willow structures) with willow sculpture or willow weaving. The former uses live wood and inserts it in the ground and it grows. Willow sculpture may use green wood but the rods are not planted.

The picture on the right is of a willow sculpture by Patrick Dougherty. He does these amazing installations all over the world. His website has many more photos of his stunning work.

• Patrick Dougherty

We have just discovered the work of a willow sculptor in our own backyard (400 miles qualifies as close, doesn't it?). He even includes the ocean in his work. Lots of photos:

• Alastair Heseltine

Another sculptor is at work in the UK, creating huge magnificent human-like figures out of willow branches:

• Serena de la Hey

There is definitely a lot of exciting work being done with willows in the UK. Take a look at these elegant structures, using both dried and living willow. She also gives workshops:

• Clare Wilks

Deb Hart brought to my attention a sculptor who has done work at Kew Gardens in England. His blog has lots of pics of his spectacular work. Make sure that when you get to the bottom of each page of his blog, that you click on Older Posts to see more. You wouldn't want to miss any!

• Tom Hares

	Two or three years I found on the internet the picture of the two willow figures on the left. I believe it was stated that the picture came from an Italian magazine. I would love to give credit to the sculptor and the magazine, but despite extensive research online, I have not been able to find the picture again. If anyone can help me out with this I would be most appreciative. Something this gorgeous deserves to be seen!! Thanks to Judy, I have found out what site I got these from, but it turns out that Willowpool Designs had scanned it from an Italian magazine. However we still do not know who to credit as the maker of the gorgeous pair on the left. Check out the Willowpool site for lots more interesting pictures (they do workshops too).
willow figures

I have not been able to find any websites with instructions on the subject of willow scupture. However I have found a book called Willow Weaving.

"Mother Winter" at Granville Island Vancouver, BC, Canada by Nicole Dextras

When I set up this webpage in about 2005, I could find very few examples of willow sculpture. Now there are lots! Check out these websites:

Wishing well, cart, barge, animals, people. Lots to view on this site:

• David Gosling

From the UK, she does fantastic sculpted animals and gives workshops:

• Caroline Gregson

Another sculptor in the UK. Her dancing trees are particularly interesting:

• Christine Baker at The Dancing Trees

More from the UK. Lots of animals. Sculptures for sale:

• Stephen Froom & Joolz Doncaster at Wicked Willow

Giant figures in the UK:

• Michelle Cain