Automaton-Maker Ian McKay

The British automaton artist Ian McKay combines weathered driftwood with wooden toy-like elements to create things like this boat automaton.

Trained as a ceramicist, he has also been a silversmith, a blacksmith, furniture designer, a maker of wood engraving blocks, drummer, technician, teacher, and gardener.

He sees toy-making to be the sum of all these experiences -- working in wood, brass rod, and paint.

See some Ian McKay automata at the www.craft2eu.net site