Edwardian Picnic Scene This was commissioned by the Beaulieu Motor Museum and is an entire tableau. The foreground diorama was at 2/5ths scale and made without reducing perspective, merging into an area of false perspective landscape made in the rear to give a sense of depth in a limited space. The entire set was built off site and made to exacting tolerances to 'shoe-horn' into a basement site. Naturalistic trees were made to fit around structural columns and subtle animations were included, fan blown foliage, revolving parasol and gramophone etc. The car, a 1903 Daimler, was fully made with interior upholstery, raising windows, hand-made spoke wheels and tyres (although we didn't bother with the engine). The figures were individually modelled and dressed even the picnic had cakes sandwiches a cold chicken. This was one of those jobs that became a labour of love we gave up counting the cost when the budget ran out half way through! link: Beaulieu Motor Museum

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