The Barn Owl's Respite

James's much-loved barn owls return in a quieter moment with The Barn Owl's Respite. Perched on early 20th-century sleeper rails once used by steam railways carrying sugarcane to the refineries, the owls are caught in stillness, each bird balanced above the weathered posts.

The aged sleepers had lain beneath the earth for nearly a century with remarkably little decay, giving the sculpture a strong physical connection between the older material and the birds resting above it.

Each owl is built around a concealed recycled marine-grade stainless steel armature. The structure extends from the post through the body towards the beak, while individually formed stainless steel talons secure each bird to its perch.

Artist: James Doran-Webb
Weight:18 kg
Dimensions:40 × 25 × 150 cm(L × W × H, approximate)
Materials:Long-dead driftwood, recycled marine-grade stainless steel
Cost:£4,750 each