When Steve Cox sees an old discarded tool he’s not adding it to the scrap pile and trading it in for cash.
A lifetime spent with horses, keen observation of the natural world and an artistic streak have contributed to quite a different perspective.
Suddenly, retired hames become the jaw of a horse, rusted rabbit traps take the shape of deer ears, and broken cutlery transform into birdwings.
Cox weaves creative magic to turn these otherwise forgotten tools and farm objects into sculptural masterpieces.
At his property in Newham a large deer looks startled as if spotted by prey, a dog takes pointing stance under a perched peacock, a horse is seen in mid-drink, and small birds fight for tree branch space. All of it is made from so-called ‘junk’ and has walked directly out of Cox’s imagination.
“I like making sculptures from things that I know are older than 80 or 100 years old because those tools get put away in boxes that you might never see for 20 years,” he explained.
“In the horse, the deer or the dog, there’s probably more than 100 pieces in each item and I can tell you what each piece is.
“None of it has been fabricated or cut out of a piece of flat steel.”
One of his prized works is a deer sculpture that incorporates some of his grandfather’s tools that had been passed down for generations. While Cox initially struggled with the idea of building them into one of his works, he reasoned that, there, they could be appreciated every day on show.
The deer also features one of Cox’s favourite pieces: an impressive 200-year-old pump handle that helps form the curve of its neck. His dog sculpture includes another treasured item: an idler arm from a 1965 Ford Mustang.
Each item has its own story.
“I love using those parts that nobody uses anymore. I look at it and I can see history in it,” he said.
“I love finding things in the dirt because nobody has seen that for 30 or 40 years. I can bring it back to life. It’s not being used for what it was made for but people still see it.”
Cox sources his materials at auctions, clearing sales and car boot sales. Sometimes neighbours, friends and family will deliver a box of retired tools and old metal parts because they know it will be repurposed with flair.
Almost just as important to Cox though, is the life captured in each piece. He’s not referencing foreign images. These creatures, their poses, their mannerisms, are all things he has come to know intimately. He draws on memories and his own experience to capture true heart and soul.
He began building sculptures 10 years ago but, without an art background, Cox had plenty of experimentation to do.
“When I first started, I worked for 10 hours, and the next day I came out and thought different parts weren’t right so I cut them part off. Twenty minutes later I just had a bunch of junk on the bench and I didn’t have one piece that joined to another,” he said.
He has since honed his technique to produce at least 12 large pieces with anywhere from 130 to 260 hours of work each, and many smaller pieces.
Early inspiration for his work came from the 2011 bronze horse sculpture Still Water at London.
The piece influenced Cox’s most polished steel sculpture yet – a horse captured in mid-drink. It’s the result of more than 260 working hours and was created with no visible welds.
“I don’t think I’m a perfectionist,” Cox said, “but once I started this I had to become one to satisfy how I want it to come out.”
Cox intends to keep on creating. He already has several visions in mind for future sculptures.
This sculpture took more than 260 working hours and was created with no visible welds. 
Cox is pictured with some of the scrap parts for his next project. 
Broken cutlery and metal parts transform into birds. 
A dog takes pointing stance under a perched peacock. 
Cox is pictured with his equine companions.
