Artist back to restore work

A chainsaw artist who lives in America has returned to Mid Wales to restore a piece of work he completed six years ago.

Sculptor Andy Hancock, who now lives in Texas, but is originally from Llanfyllin, returned to the Powysland Museum in Welshpool to work on the giant wooden handbag.

The sculpture was constructed for the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002, to coincide with an exhibition of the Queen's handbags at the time.

Mr Hancock said: "I live in Texas now, but I come across twice a year to complete commissions for people and thought I'd better do something with it (the handbag)."

In recent years the wood has deteriorated, so on his latest visit to the area, Mr Hancock returned to the museum and restored it.

The handbag, which is located on the canal wharf outside the venue, is covered with small blue anodised metal tags.

The tags were available free to all visitors at the time of construction, who then had the opportunity to stamp their initials on the tag which was fastened to the outside of the handbag until the whole piece was covered.

Mr Hancock's work can be seen all over Shropshire and Powys, including at Sweeney, Oswestry, Lake Vyrnwy and Newtown.