The Grey Warbler Gallery is more than just two galleries showcasing metal sculptor Clive Armstrong's and abstract artist Angela McKenzie's stunning work during the Bay of Plenty Garden & Art Festival from November 17-20.

Festival-goers will find themselves walking through the country gate onto a path that winds amongst trees, shade-loving plants and roses up to the house and gallery, named for the grey warbler bird that nests and sings nearby.

Around the garden, more trees, vegetable plots, unusual perennials and more roses.

A tall man of steel with a metal dog greets visitors. His arms are made from a flowing stream of spanners, his moustache was once a horse shoe.

'I'll be reluctant to sell him,” says Clive.

Another metal fellow has boots made from fire extinguishers; his body once an expansion chamber off an exhaust from a two-stroke motorbike. The legs are exhaust pipes.

Angela says people find Clive's work amusing and amazing.

'They ask: ‘how did you get that expression?' - from a couple of bolts and hammerheads.”

Clive is passionate about transforming metal into characters that come to life, often working every evening while focused on a specific project.

'I've been making little animal faces, sort of comical looking, smaller than what I usually do,” says Clive.

His life-size Stratocaster guitar with metal comical heads will be up for sale during the festival.

Fans of Angela will know her large abstract resin works.

'The resin makes the colour sing. I start the painting then put the first layer of resin down. Then paint, then resin etc. So that's how you get that three-dimensional depth,” says Angela.

'I also sculpt paper and various other media. I focus more on experimentation, and play with different ways of using paper, rather than just framing it.”
Their man cave is a delight of collectibles, including parachuting men, mostly sourced from markets and swap meets.

Some of their friends will be displaying their classic cars at Grey Warbler Gallery during the four-day festival and Angela's son's band The Leeds will be playing music from The Doors, The Who and The Rolling Stones on Saturday from 3pm – 5pm.

'If the weather's good they will be on the deck in the garden.”

The Bay of Plenty Garden & Art Festival is on November 17-20. A one-day Pass costs $40 and a multi-day festival pass is $65, and both packs include a festival pass, directory and map. Visit: www.gardenandartfestival.co.nz for ticket sales and more information.