Sue lands top gongs for her animal sculptures
A hugely talented maker of collectable bears and animals has scooped no fewer than five awards at a major festival.
Sue Quinn, whose amazing showroom and workshop is hidden away in an old tenement at 7 Hunter Street, Paisley, won the prizes at the Woburn Teddy Bear Festival at Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire.
She was honoured for the outstanding quality of her soft animal sculptures, which are made from scratch and to the highest quality in the heart of town.
They range from traditional teddy bears to rabbits, mice and badgers, not forgetting her speciality of hedgehogs.
Sue, 66, said: “I don’t call them soft toys because they’re not actually toys.
“It’s difficult to know how to categorise them – they’re soft sculptures, really.”
Over 40 years in the business, Sue has built up a very high reputation in the industry.
She used to be based at Quarrier’s Villag in Bridge of Weir, but has been in Hunter Street for the last 10 years.
“I’ve always done it, since I was a child,” she said.
“I used to draw continually. And then I tried to make them into a toy.
“But obviously when I was very young I didn’t have the ability to do that.
“So gradually, I worked up and worked up.”
And now, after decades of experience, Sue can turn her hand to almost any animal sculpture, often receiving commissions for particular animals.
“Hedgehogs are my kind of wellknown creatures,” she said.
“A lot of people make bears now, as you might be aware.
“So hedgehogs are quite unusual.”
Amazingly, the animals can be made in quite a short time.
“If it’s a special piece – two or three days,” she said.
“It’s down to experience. I’ve been doing it so long.
“I don’t stint on anything. I try to make it the best I possibly can.”
If you would like to see a range of animals by Sue you can visit the workshop at Hunter Street or visit www.bearsbysuequinn.co.uk