Celebrity touch for national art scheme

Comedian Rob Brydon has come face to face with his image as crafted by a West Midlands engineering firm. The Gavin and Stacey star said it was an honour to have been immortalised in the life-sized steel sculpture. He was keen to set eyes on the steel art work made by Cannock-based laser cutting subcontractor Laser Process, which has just been unveiled near the comedian’s hometown in South Wales. The steel sculpture of the comic sits alongside figures of acting legend Richard Burton and forest ranger Dick Wagstaff, all heroes to the community in the town of Cwmafan near Port Talbot. The steel silhouettes have been placed alongside a new cycle route and footpath connecting Cwmafan and Port Talbot, running through the Afan Valley. The TV star said he very much liked being turned in to a statue and got a touch poetic. “This is a great honour and I look forward to offering weary cyclists the chance to catch their breath,” he said. “I love the thought of becoming part of the landscape alongside Dick Wagstaff and the great Richard Burton. “I’m hoping that my sculpture might be able to persuade Burton’s sculpture to quote some poetry of an evening, or at least a bit of War Of The Worlds.” The artwork is part of a national project called the Portrait Bench – from sustainable transport charity Sustrans who are one of the largest commissioners of public art in the UK. Laser Process will be involved in making more than 200 of the figures of celebrities and local heroes as part of the project, which will be displayed at more than 70 sites alongside new cycling and walking routes from the Highlands to the south of England

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