About
Hugh May-Perry: Artist and Modeller
Details & Design
A curated showcase of vintage, hard-to-find model kits
Artist & Modeller
Hugh May-Perry: Artist and Modeller presents a curated collection of museum-grade scale models and dynamic dioramas. Specializing in rare vintage kits, meticulous hand-painting, and custom greyboard environments, this portfolio explores the intersection of historical fidelity and fine-art miniature craftsmanship.
About The Artist
Hugh May-Perry is a UK-based artist and creator celebrated for his distinctive intersection of Victorian industrial aesthetics and the natural world. Known widely in alternative art circles as “The Steampunk Entomologist,” he has carved out a unique niche through his imaginative, highly detailed sculptures and mixed-media creations..
Model Crafting and Precision Work
Beyond his standalone steampunk sculptures, May-Perry has earned recognition for his exceptional eye for precision and scale, extending his craftsmanship into the realm of museum-quality scaled kits and dioramas. His deep appreciation for historical accuracy, structural detailing, and fine finishing techniques allows him to bridge whimsical fantasy art with the rigorous discipline of scale modeling. Whether crafting intricate mechanical curiosities or pristine historical replicas, his body of work reflects a masterclass in texture, resourcefulness, and traditional hand-craftsmanship.
Artistic Style & Steampunk Works
May-Perry’s signature work focuses on transforming discarded, recycled, and reimagined components into intricate biological art. Drawing inspiration from the ingenuity of the Industrial Revolution, he constructs meticulous, freestanding sculptures and wall art—most notably mechanical insects like butterflies, dragonflies, and spiders.
His process typically incorporates:
- Found Industrial Objects: Vintage clock and pocket watch gears, cogs, copper wire, brass stampings, and pieces of vintage costume jewelry.
- Natural Elements: Encased specimen framing that evokes the feel of a Victorian naturalist’s study, blended seamlessly with fantastical machinery.
- Thematic Harmony: Creating pieces where the delicate, iridescent qualities of wings merge with visible engineering, presenting nature as a marvel of mechanical design.
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building, detailing, and hand-painting
keeping the creative process as dynamic as the history it represents.
building, detailing, and hand-painting
I specialize in building, detailing, and hand-painting vintage, hard-to-acquire model kits to what I proudly consider a museum-quality standard. My collection features rare centerpieces, including the iconic 1930s Cord and Revell’s classic Civil War ships, originally released back in 1961.
To house these builds, I construct custom dioramas primarily from 1mm greyboard, utilizing silicone and acrylics to capture fluid, realistic marine environments. These dioramas serve a dual purpose: they are meticulously engineered for photographic storytelling, then carefully disassembled, repurposed, and remodelled for subsequent shoots—keeping the creative process as dynamic as the history it represents.
