THE LIFE and work of a talented sculptor from Wrexham is set to be showcased via his very own documentary.

Simon O'Rourke has become a well-known figure throughout north Wales down the years for his amazing sculptures he carves with his chainsaw from wood.

Back in 2019, his giant dragon at Bethesda caused 'traffic to slow down' in order to catch a glimpse of it.

More recently, his Deadpool sculpture - in honour of Wrexham AFC co-chairman Ryan Reynolds - caught the eye on social media and beyond as it raised funds for charity.

Another notable work of his is the Giant Hand of Vyrnwy at Powys - which was transformed from the remnants of what was the UK's tallest tree - after it was damaged in a storm.

Now, Simon is set to be put well and truly under the spotlight with a documentary of his own showcasing his life and his creations.

He was approached earlier this year by film and TV producer, Rakha Singh, whose feature film, The Killing of John Lennon was nominated for a BAFTA award.

Central to the film, will be the creation of a 5m long, fire breathing dragon, with a 5m wingspan, carved from the trunk of a single tree.

The dragon, to be named Tranquillity (Llonwddych), is being installed in the garden of Arfon Hardy, a man whose life had been altered radically after a surgeon made a catastrophic error during an operation, leaving him paralysed from the waist down.

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A surgeon’s mistake, in June 2017, happened when he was undergoing a laminectomy to remove an anterior thoracic disc.

Arfon had previously travelled the world, taking any opportunity to jump out of a plane, dive a coral reef (he was an expert diver), or hang-glide down a mountain.

Now, wheelchair bound, Arfon wanted to create something extraordinary for his new life in the garden of his home in Gwernymynydd, near Mold.

He saw some of Simon’s work and commissioned him at once to build the fire breathing dragon which will be in flight, wings outstretched, mounted above the water in the middle of a lake.

As he says: “After my first operation, I stayed in hospital for 16 months and four days. Most of the time in a very serious condition. Yet I have come through this and now continue to do some crazy things, even when I am told I can’t do it, I carry on until someone says yes, they will make it happen for me. And Simon said, ‘yes.’”

Simon and Arfon have created a back story for their dragon which Simon has turned into a short story called 'The Tale of Tranquillity'.

It tells of the dragon, Dychryn, who had terrorised the people and cattle of Cymru until she was trapped by the humans and imprisoned beneath the rocks. A thousand years later she escapes and instead of rampaging once again, she meets and talks to Arfon, changes her name to Llonyddwch (Tranquillity) and settles in the gardens where she will protect his property for ever.

The story will also be animated for the film, with illustrations by Simon, and will be narrated by the World-famous Welsh actor, Dame Siân Philips.

The Leader: PIC: Simon O'Rourke's eye-catching dragon located at Bethesda, Gwynedd.

The film will follow Simon from the beginning of the commissioning process to the final installation of the dragon and the climax of its first ‘flight’.

The tree used for the carving, a Blue Atlas Cedar, had suffered dieback - a disease which meant the tree needed to be felled.

For this project, Simon is using a range of chainsaws from smaller battery saws up to a 95cc saw with a 3ft bar. The process has been made more complex due to the dragon’s flame breathing, the addition of sound and light, and the fact that it is being installed in the centre of a small lake.

Looking ahead to the documentary, its director Rakha Singh said: “The minute I saw Simon’s work I knew I had to make this film. We will be using high speed camera techniques and drone photography to help bring Simon’s beautiful work to life.”

Wrexham based, Simon, has an honours degree in illustration from Wrexham University. Initially he specialised in children’s books but became a tree surgeon and had an inspired moment when he saw someone using a chainsaw to sculpt a dead tree in a local park.

Today, woodland has become, for him, a place of solace and reflection, a place which stimulates his senses.

He said: “The sight of dappled sunlight, halos of sun, bright green leaves in spring against grey skies. It grounds me and makes me feel alive.”

The production team is financing this film. If you wish to donate towards its making, please click here.

Donations of £5 or more will entitle the contributor to a viewing of the completed film.

Corporate contributions of £1,500 or more will entitle the donor to an end credit on the completed production.