Chucking chickens at Angelina Jolie’s legs and wrapping a snake around Cher’s neck may sound like a fever dream, but it is all in a day’s work for taxidermist Simon Wilson.
Simon’s craft has reached some of the world’s biggest industries from the comfort of his Bovingdon workshop.
Speaking to KINGSnews, Simon said: “I got into taxidermy around the age of nine. I was always interested in wildlife and birds, and I also loved visiting the Natural History Museum. I thought it was amazing that you could see all these animals.”
His dad introduced him to a taxidermist who taught him the trade. Though Simon took another job after school, his passion endured.
After displaying some birds in a shop in Chalfont St Peter, an animal trainer who worked in the film industry spotted Simon’s work and asked him if he would be interested in working on various projects for the big screen.
This chance encounter led to Simon caring for Hedwig the owl in Harry Potter and training squirrels in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He has also brought flair to the fashion world, collaborating with icons such as Alexander McQueen.
Simon also works with animatronics, finding ways to make preserved animals move, and continues to create artworks that push the boundaries of nature.
Simon added: “It is like I have never worked; every day is different, and I have travelled around the world and seen amazing things.
“Taxidermy is about preserving the beauty of animals; it is a shame to see something so beautiful go to waste.”
Find Simon on Instagram @simon_the_stuffa.
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