The devil is in the details for The Devil’s Latex

WHEN STEVE BELLAMY moved to Stoney Creek five years ago, he did it for the housing prices. But what he got, he says, is so much more.

In Bellamy’s 500-square-foot backyard garage, the Bradford, Ont. native’s unique business has taken off.

The Devil’s Latex is a truly creative and truly creepy mask-making business that has Bellamy designing and creating latex and silicone horror masks for movie productions, rock bands, and private collectors around the world.

Bellamy, who left high school as a teen, but eventually went on to complete a college business diploma, says: “I couldn’t work at a bank. I hated it. I couldn’t sit there, I needed to fidget with things.”

That was eight years ago, and to date, Bellamy has created more than 200 moulds and sculptures for his impressive line of gruesome characters, supplying such clients as Warner Brothers, The Weeknd, Belly, Insane Clown Posse, Stitches, Shinedown and Coheed and Cambria.

Bellamy uses wet moulding clay to create his sculptures; that then provide the mould for both the silicone and latex, as well as some resin masks that he makes. He prefers wet clay to oilbased clays because they are faster to work with.

For the past two months, he has spent almost every day in his studio until 11 p.m. fulfilling orders to be shipped out in time for Halloween. “It’s only myself and one part-time person,” he says to his customers, “so please be patient.”

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CATHIE COWARD, THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR It's a busy time of year for horror mask maker Steve Bellamy, seen here in his workshop surrounded by some of his favourite creations.

Steve Bellamy sculpts the prototype for an alien mask in his Stoney Creek workshop. He has made masks for film studios, rock bands and private collectors.

Some of Bellamy’s masks waiting for his unique and creepy finishing touches.

Tins filled with eyeballs and teeth in Bellamy's home studio.