Brandon grew up in Johannesburg and always had a very keen interest in animals, collecting everything from snakes to monkeys. At age fifteen, he moved to Durban where he worked part-time at the Dolphinarium and Snake Park.

After school and a two-year stint in the army, he joined the snake park again. Six months later, restless, and full of wanderlust, he took off for the bush where he was involved in Game ranging at several private reserves, filming documentaries on lions and hyenas in Botswana and Namibia for National Geographic and the BBC, and eventually wound up managing the crocodile farm at Sun City for twelve years.

In 2010 with his fertile imagination and creative yearnings, he decided to give sculpting a try as it was something that he’d always wanted to do after being inspired by the late sculptor, Tienie Pritchard.

Because of his affinity for all things Native American, he sculpted a life-size bust of Fool Bull, (Native American warrior and medicine man) working from a single photo taken well over a hundred years ago – This figure was cast in bronze and set on granite in testament to the lasting and profound influence that the Native American culture has had on the world. His passion to create was now ignited once again; from then on, it was all systems ‘go’ – In 2016 he started pursuing his passion full-time and has since built up an impressive portfolio. Much of his work has been commissions but in the past few years, he has really come into his own and is known for his figures and ability to sculpt in any size, style, or subject.

Artist Statement
The creative process is both challenging and therapeutic … a masterful teacher in many ways. Experimenting with different, styles, finishes and patinas I realized that I’m very versatile and so I choose not to define myself by one style or subject but rather prefer to expand my creativity in any and every direction I feel led. My ideas and inspiration have been evolving and expanding and I am very excited by the challenge of finding ways to express in bronze my own spiritual journeys and ideas.

Influences & Inspiration
Around age 7, I came across a bronze Native American holding up a buffalo skull in prayer for his starving race. (A Tienie Prichard piece). I remember being totally mesmerized by the piece and scrutinizing every inch of it. I dreamed of one day being able to create something as beautiful, though at the time I felt that only some god-like being could possess such talent. I found a creative outlet in photography and drawing and pursued a career in wildlife. For many years I felt really centred when I was behind a camera and then one day, I visited a taxidermist who was sculpting a gorilla and I related the story of the Indian. After chatting for a while, she gave me a lump of clay and told me to see what I could do.

As I took my first tentative steps with this new medium, I found that kneading, pressing, and forming the clay seemed to come naturally and I soon realised that this was the perfect way for me to channel my creative energy. Being a very tactile person, using my hands to bring life to a three-dimensional figure felt far more natural than trying to create an illusion of three dimensions on paper. Of late I’ve been breaking out of my past perceived limitations and really loosening up to give expression to my creative impulses regardless of size or safety. As a result, I’ve added some wonderful new pieces to my portfolio and expanded my confidence and horizons.