In the hands of sculptor Chris Moss, old scrap metal pieces are reincarnated as beautiful works of art in the form of birds and animals. Ruth Campbell finds out how she does it

Chris Moss can't walk past a skip or pile of rubbish without having a peek. For, in her hands, everything from the discarded spiral binding of a jotter to old, frayed copper cabling can be transformed into something else altogether.

Rusty bolts and screws shine like jewels in a treasure trove of scrap as apparently useless pieces of old metal become soaring seabirds or fractious crows. Chris also creates life-sized horses, deer and dogs from chicken wire.

A keen observer of animals and birds, the acclaimed North Yorkshire sculptor is fascinated by how they move and behave and, as a result, her anatomically perfect pieces are infused with energy. Her pack of six lurcher dogs, which she recently unveiled for the first time at the Great North Art Show in the magnificent setting of Ripon Cathedral, look as if they are about to bolt around the medieval stone building. One of her foxes startled the resident deer in the grounds of Swinton Park hotel and her lifelike swans, sheep and peacocks have graced everywhere from the grounds of stately homes to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Until two years ago, former events organiser and administrator Chris, who went to art college in Hull, was working full time in an office in Harrogate, making and exhibiting her wire sculptures, and also running workshops, as a sideline. But as demand for her work increased, and her ceramicist husband Eric took redundancy from his graphic design job to concentrate on making a living from his art, she decided to take a leap of faith. “I decided it was time to leap off the cliff and see what happened,” says Chris.

The couple sold their town house in Harrogate and moved to Asenby, near Thirsk, where they have converted a double garage into a workshop and studio at their pretty, pink brick-built 1850s home, converted from a row of three village poor houses.

She now has room to display her outdoor pieces, which include a collection of guinea fowl, cockerels and ducks. They are about to be joined in the garden by a handsome pig. At one point, there was even a life-sized horse. “Neighbours are bemused,” she says. “They are curious as to what is going to appear next.”

Her new workshop consists of a large table, surrounded by shelves holding copper, steel and brass mesh, along with second hand recycled parts, including old barbecue grills and burnt-out filters. “I am fascinated by what others throw away and it gives me real satisfaction to create something out of it,” she says. She appreciates having a dedicated studio at last: “I like walking down the garden path and going to work.”

Previously, she sculpted from her dining table, the room divided in two with white tape, so she and Eric didn’t encroach on each other’s space. “I am messy and he is tidy. Even now, things creep. It can make for creative friction,” she laughs.

Although Chris studied painting at art college, she always loved creating things in 3D. “As a child, I entertained myself making things out of bits of wood or strange-shaped stones and later enjoyed knitting, sewing and crochet,” she says. When she first tried to create a papier mache piece, around 30 years ago, she discovered a passion for wire work. “I loved making the wire structure for the papier mache, and never got past it. It was like drawing in 3D.”

She spent several years experimenting and perfecting her craft, mainly using galvanised chicken wire, which is perfect for outdoor pieces. Then she learnt to weld to create the stainless steel frameworks for larger pieces.

It wasn’t until about 15 years ago that Welsh-born Chris, 56, who moved to Harrogate as a child, first started exhibiting and selling her sculptures. Now she works six days a week, with even the smallest bird taking a couple of days to complete, as each one is unique. “Just because they’re small, they’re not necessarily quicker. They can be very fiddly,” she explains.

Observing animal behaviour is key: “I find them more interesting than people. I am curious about their physiognomy, movement and behaviour, particularly their group dynamics, and try to catch some sense of their life and energy in my work.”

She creates sketches and usually makes small and meticulous 3D models first, which she scales up. Unlike clay or wax, metal can’t easily be reworked. “You have to have a good idea of what you are doing as it’s difficult to take apart. I have taken a chainsaw to hack off a limb once, but that’s a bit drastic.”

Her most popular sculptures are of ducks, geese and hens. Hares and foxes, equally at home in an urban or country garden, are in demand too. Small birds start at £95, larger pieces cost up to £4,000, and she sells all over the country and abroad, including America and Australia.

One woman from Derbyshire ordered a life-sized peacock for her husband for Christmas, collecting it the week before in her mini. “The peacock body was strapped into the passenger seat, with the tail in the back. She managed to keep it a surprise until it appeared on the lawn on Christmas morning,” laughs Chris.

The most exotic animal Chris has created is a life-size long-tailed Green Monkey, originally from Barbardos but now happily ensconced in a North Yorkshire garden. She was once also commissioned to make a unicorn, 14 hands high.

Her lurchers, modelled on dogs she knows, have been particularly popular, with several snapped up for between £500 and £650 each during the opening days of the cathedral show.

“They were a labour of love,” says Chris. “I have a soft spot for them.”

And the ancient backdrop of the cathedral provided the perfect setting. “Lurchers were a part of everyday life in medieval times,” says Chris. “I think that’s why they look very much at home there.”

  • The Great North Art Show, featuring 350 pieces from 57 artists, runs until September 24, 10am to 4.30pm daily, admission free.