SCULPTOR David Goode is opening his Oxford garden so art lovers can come and see his quirky creations.

Mr Goode, 46, is a former portrait sculptor at Madame Tussauds in London.

Now the father-of-three has set up a permanent exhibition in the garden of his home in Meadow Lane, Iffley, and wants people to come and see his work.

There was a special opening for guests yesterday and members of the public will now be able to visit by appointment.

People will be able to see Mr Goode’s bronze goblins and a five-metre sculpture of rutting stags.

Work by fellow sculptors will also be on display, including the creations of Oxford sculptor Jim Kempton, the current Tussauds portrait sculptor.

Mr Goode said: “This is the first exhibition staged in the garden.

“I create my own garden every year at the Chelsea Flower Show and I thought I would try something similar here.”

Other sculptors with work on display are Nick Bibby, Steve Myburgh, Tom Stogdon, David Meredith, Carl Longworth and Rachel Talbot.

Mr Goode created his rutting stags after seeing a driftwood version by fellow sculptor James Doran-Webb.

Mr Goode said: “I met James at the Chelsea Flower Show and loved his driftwood stags.

“I suggested that I should create a version in bronze and they are both now on display in my garden.

“From today people who love art and sculpture will be able to visit the garden, and it would be best if they made an appointment.

“I’ve got a studio at the house but this is the first time I have opened the garden up to display such large sculptures.

“My work is quite quirky. It’s quite a big plot with a pond in the middle where there is one of my sculptures of two mermaids.”

Mr Goode lives with wife Jo, 48, twins Harry and Jake, 19, and Isabel, 16.

He worked at Madame Tussauds in London for six years before moving to Iffley 19 years ago.

At 18, he trained at The Sir Henry Doulton School of Sculpture in Stoke, specialising in portrait and figurative sculpture.

He is inspired by folklore and the writings of The Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien.

  • Some sculptures on display will be for sale and people can arrange visits by emailing info@david-goode.com