Tiny Tyson Fury stands on top of a NAIL - amazing sculpture of the boxing champ unveiled

The miniature sculpture was created by Dr Willard Wigan in his Birmingham studio
Tiny Tyson Fury sculpture unveiled by artist Dr Willard WiganTiny Tyson Fury sculpture unveiled by artist Dr Willard Wigan
Tiny Tyson Fury sculpture unveiled by artist Dr Willard Wigan

World-renowned micro artist Willard Wigan has created a tiny sculpture of British boxing champion Tyson Fury - on the top of a NAIL.

Here’s a sculpture of British boxing champion Tyson Fury - on top of NAIL.

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The miniature sculpture was created by West Midlands micro sculpture legend Dr Willard Wigan MBE who intricately carved the incredible figure of the Gypsy King in between his heartbeats.

He even used his eyelash as a paintbrush after crafting the miniscule engraving out of a nylon cable tie and gold using a broken tip of diamond as a chisel.

Willard spent eight hours a day over a four week period working on the piece, titled "Hard as Nails", in his workshop in Birmingham.

Dr Willard Wigan next to his micro sculpture of Tyson FuryDr Willard Wigan next to his micro sculpture of Tyson Fury
Dr Willard Wigan next to his micro sculpture of Tyson Fury

Why did Willard create the sculpture?

The figure features a green set of boxing gloves and black shorts emblazoned with Fury’s ‘Gypsy King’ nickname and was created completely from memory.

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Willard said he wanted to pay tribute to the heavyweight champion following the successful defence of his WBC title against Deontay Wilder.

The sculptor makes microscopic art pieces, as small as 0.005mm, which are placed in the eye of a needle or on the head of a pin and can only be viewed through a microscope.

He has not put a value on his latest piece, but Willard’s work has previously fetched between £90,000 to £200,000 and his fans include Her Majesty The Queen.

Micro sculptor Dr Willard Wigan Micro sculptor Dr Willard Wigan
Micro sculptor Dr Willard Wigan

What did Willard say about the sculpture?

Willard, of Birmingham, said: "I have got a lot of respect for Tyson Fury. I am a big boxing fan and I always have been.

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"I think what he has done for mental health is important too so I wanted to pay the biggest tribute I could in the smallest way possible.

"I met him in 2019 and I just knew that he was going on to greatness. I don’t think he will ever be defeated and he is like the Mohammed Ali of our day.

"He just seems to have a mental mindset which I don’t think will ever be matched so I wanted to honour his achievements with this piece.

"He is, of course, hard as nails so I thought it would be quite fitting to have him standing on top of a nail.

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"They also say it’s not the size of the dog in fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog - and that is something Tyson can relate to.

"People wrote him off because of his size when he was overweight but he has been on one hell of a journey and deserves his success.

"It is not my smallest work as I wanted to get a lot of detail in his face. I wanted to get that scowl he does so it is undoubtedly recognisable as him.

"I used a tiny shard of diamond as a miniature chisel and used by pulse as a jackhammer to carve it out.

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"We haven’t measured it but you can see its barely bigger than the head of a match and I crafted it all from memory as well."

The Birmingham Contemporary Art GalleryThe Birmingham Contemporary Art Gallery
The Birmingham Contemporary Art Gallery

Where else can I see Dr Willard Wigan’s incredible work?

Willard was awarded an MBE for services to art in July 2007 and holds several records - including the smallest hand-made sculpture in the world

The sculpture of a human embryo made from a fibre from his carpet was placed inside a hollowed out strand of his hair and measured 0.07822 mm (78.22 microns).

His incredible artwork is so small he needs a powerful microscope to magnify the object 250 times.

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In 2012 he was appointed to commission a replica of the Coronation Crown of Queen Elizabeth II, which now sits at Buckingham Palace.

The Fury sculpture is one of 25 micro-sculptures that Willard is currently exhibiting at Birmingham Contemporary Art Gallery.

To book tickets visit the event brite link hyperlined. A message from the editor:

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