To see more and discover the full range of casts we do in every material visit the Examples page.
Fibreglass Resin
Fiberglass (US) or fibreglass (UK) is a common type of reinforced plastic using glass fibres. The plastic matrix we most often use is polyester resin and the composite material is ofter referred to as GRP (glass reinforced plastic). We use the terms ‘resin’ and ‘fibreglass’ synonymously throughout this site.
These casts are generally hollow with a shell of GRP around .75cm or 3/8″ thick. They are light weight but very strong and are easily hung on the wall on just a picture hook or nail. Cheaper and more flexible than carbon fibre, it is stronger than many metals by weight and can be molded into complex shapes and the surface can be worked to a smooth, glassy finish. It is often used in the construction of boats, swimming pools and some vehicles.
Our wall-mounted casts will come ready to hang with string or picture wire on the reverse. In smaller castings we may use the resin only, without glass fibres, to create solid, more weighty casts which can be free standing or attached to a base. Resin or fibreglass is suitable for all the many different castings we do. It is inexpensive and generally a better material than traditional plaster in most cases, especially where you want your cast to last a lifetime with little risk of damage.
Colours
We generally finish our fibreglass and resin casts in a satin matt white to resemble traditional plaster or marble. Our prices assume this finish, however they can be painted literally any colour, although this may increase the cost. See the Specialist Paints and Realistic Paint pages to see what is possible.
History
The industrial development of fibreglass and its commercial availability prompted artists to work with this material from about 1960 onward. They have often favoured it for public sculptures because it lasts outdoors, is strong, easy to work with and can be made in or painted any colour. The material allows artists to actually produce the final sculptures themselves, and to create lasting works at any scale.
Body casting in fibreglass developed in the film industry. It’s ability to be translucent and thus realistically mimic skin better than flat colour led to it’s development as an SFX material for corpses, creatures and body parts etc. Jamie worked in SFX in the film business for many years and has brought many of these film techniques to his body casting work. He follows in the footsteps of the acknowledged pioneers in this field, namely Duane Hanson, John de Andrea and Ron Mueck.