Why Everyone Is Talking About Mandy Bryson’s Menagerie of Idioms.
Artist Mandy Bryson with her work at Bamburgh Castle.
Who is Mandy Bryson?
Before visiting the exhibition at Bamburgh Castle, I already knew a little about Mandy Bryson’s work and the kind of sculptures she creates. She’s a Berwick sculptor and prop maker known for creating incredibly detailed faux-taxidermy animals, often used to tell humorous or slightly surreal stories.
What stood out to me straight away when seeing the sculptures in person was the level of craftsmanship. Even though the animals are part of playful scenes based on idioms, the anatomy and form feel very believable.
Mandy studied at Edinburgh College of Art, where she was awarded the Andrew Grant Scholarship and stayed on to continue studying at postgraduate level. That strong foundation in sculpting is really noticeable in her work. There’s a clear understanding of how both animals and people move, which helps the sculptures feel full of character rather than just decorative objects.
Alongside her sculpture work, Mandy has also worked as a florist in the events industry and as a prop maker. After seeing the exhibition, it’s easy to understand how those experiences have influenced her installations. Many of the scenes feel quite theatrical, almost like you’ve walked into a moment from a story.
Something Mandy often talks about is embracing her inner child and drawing inspiration from the toys and books she loved growing up. That sense of imagination definitely comes through in the exhibition.
This blog focuses on Mandy Bryson’s latest exhibition, Menagerie of Idioms, currently on display at Bamburgh Castle. If you’d like to see more of Mandy’s work beyond this exhibition, you can explore her previous projects on her website here.
Tom, Dick and Harry are Performing a Balancing Act, work of Mandy Bryson.
Inspiration Behind the Menagerie
While speaking with Mandy during the shoot, she mentioned that part of the inspiration for Menagerie of Idioms came from something quite unusual - the Cement Menagerie in Branxton.
The Cement Menagerie was a back garden filled with life-sized concrete animals created by retired joiner John Fairnington for his disabled son Edwin. Over time the garden became packed with weathered sculptures, creating a slightly surreal collection of animals in the middle of a small Northumberland village.
Although the sculptures are no longer there, the story clearly stayed with Mandy.
Knowing this makes the exhibition feel even more interesting, because there’s a similar sense of curiosity running through it — a collection of animals gathered together in unexpected ways, each one with its own personality.
Walking through the castle, it almost feels like discovering a strange and playful menagerie hidden inside the historic rooms.
Sculpture at Mandy Bryson’s Exhibition inside Bamburgh Castle.
The Exhibition at Bamburgh Castle
The exhibition is currently displayed at Bamburgh Castle on the North East coast of Northumberland and runs from 14th February 2026 until November 2026.
You can find more information about the Tails & Tales – Indoor Sculpture Trail on the Bamburgh Castle website.
Entry to the exhibition is included with general admission to the castle. Which can be found at https://www.bamburghcastle.com/castle/
The setting of Bamburgh Castle adds a completely different layer to the exhibition. As you walk through the castle’s historic rooms, the sculptures appear along the way, almost like you are following a trail through the building.
The large rooms work really well with the scale of the sculptures, allowing each installation to have its own space. At the same time, the contrast between the historic castle setting and the colourful, playful characters makes the experience feel even more memorable.
Moving from room to room almost feels like stepping into different chapters of a story.
Gwendoline has her Head in the C…..
Shooting the Exhibition
I really enjoyed photographing and filming behind the scenes of this exhibition with Sarah and Mandy, as it was such a unique and interesting shoot to be part of. The scale of the sculptures has an instant wow factor when you see them in person, and it was something we had to keep in mind while shooting to make sure that sense of size really came across in the images. Being able to look closely at the sculptures while photographing them also made me appreciate the level of detail that has gone into each piece. Capturing those textures and expressions through the camera was really satisfying. There were also two moving sculptures in the exhibition, which were particularly interesting to film. We used an Osmo to capture some behind-the-scenes clips for social media, as well as filming some slow-motion shots on the DSLR which helped show a bit more of the atmosphere and movement within the exhibition.
The Atmosphere of the Exhibition
Walking into the exhibition, the first thing that really struck me was the scale of the sculptures. They were much bigger than I had expected, and immediately filled the space.
The level of detail gives each piece a real sense of presence. As you move through the rooms, every sculpture feels like its own little scene, full of personality and humour.
Some of the idioms are easy to recognise straight away, while others take a bit more thinking. This makes the exhibition quite interactive, because you naturally start trying to work out what each scene represents.
Music playing in the background adds another layer to the experience. It helps create an immersive atmosphere and makes the installations feel more alive as you walk through the castle.
Mandy Bryson’s Faux-Taxidermy work displayed at Bamburgh Castles Billiard room.
What is an Idiom?
An idiom is a phrase where the meaning isn’t taken literally from the words themselves. Instead, it has a figurative meaning that people understand through common use in language.
Idioms are part of everyday conversation and often create funny or imaginative images in your mind.
In Menagerie of Idioms, these phrases are transformed into physical scenes through sculpture and theatrical installation. Instead of simply reading the phrase, visitors get to see it brought to life.
Each sculpture represents a well-known saying, and as you walk through the exhibition you can try to guess the idiom behind each one.
Mandy Bryson’s Moving Sculpture at Bamburgh Castle.
Why Animals Work So Well With Idioms
Animals appear in many idioms because they have long been used to describe human behaviour.
For example:
Bees are often linked with hard work
Foxes suggest cleverness
Pigs are sometimes used to represent messiness or impossibility
Tigers suggest strength or danger
Because these associations already exist in our minds, animals make idioms easier to visualise.
Turning them into sculptures makes the phrases feel even clearer and often quite funny. In this exhibition the animals feel full of personality, which helps people connect the scene with the phrase it represents.
‘Slow and Steady’ Wins The Race… Sculpture by Mandy Bryson.
The Craft Behind the Sculptures
Looking closely at the sculptures, the amount of detail in each piece really stands out.
Mandy told us that each sculpture can take anywhere from two weeks to two months to complete depending on its complexity.
The fur on the animals is created by shredding and layering fabric, which gives them a surprisingly realistic texture. Seeing this up close really shows how much time and patience goes into each piece.
Small details in the faces and expressions give every character its own personality. Many of the installations also include recycled or vintage objects, which adds charm and helps build the storytelling within each scene.
It’s only when you stand close to the work that you realise just how much craftsmanship has gone into creating each sculpture.
Hector the Hare by Mandy Bryson.
A Personal Favourite
One sculpture that really stood out to me was Gwendoline – Head in the Clouds.
The piece immediately caught my attention because of its scale. The giraffe stands tall in a room overlooking the North Sea, which makes the whole scene feel even more striking.
Gwendoline is dressed in a beautifully made gown created specifically for the sculpture. The level of detail in both the giraffe and the costume is impressive.
There is also something quite amusing about seeing such a tall, elegant giraffe standing proudly in a gown. The humour of the scene makes it even more memorable.
This idiom was one I recognised almost immediately, which made it particularly satisfying to spot.
Idioms in the Exhibition
Some of the sculptures featured in the exhibition include:
Pearl- Snails Pace
Bosley- Opened A Can Of Worms
Maxi- On The Ball
Victoria and Albert-Night Owl
Jason- Bull In A China Shop
Fagan- A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bushes
Mandy- Wears Her Heart On Her Sleeve
Tallulah- Slow and Steady Wins The Race
Yorick- No Fool Like an Old Fool
Bobby Dazzler-Jumping Through Hoops
George and Gigi - On His High Horse/ Off her Rocker
Tom,Dick and Harry - Balancing act
Cyril- Proud as a Peacock
Angus- Black Sheep of the Family
Gwendoline- Head In The Clouds
Ethel- Leap Of Faith
Horatio and Pablo- Fish Out of Water
Hector- Dilly Dally
Jane Doe and Robina- Early Bird
Cedric-Many Hands Make Light Work
Can you match up the idioms?
Keep your eyes peeled for Horatio, the fish out of water, who makes a few secret appearances in photos hidden around the castle….
Horatio is Hidden in Plain Sight, Hidden photos Amongst the Exhibition.
Who Would Enjoy This Exhibition?
The exhibition works well for a wide range of visitors.
Children will likely enjoy the playful animals and the challenge of guessing the idioms as they move through the castle.
Creative visitors, particularly those interested in sculpture, prop making, or visual storytelling, will probably appreciate the level of detail and craftsmanship in each piece.
For people already visiting Bamburgh Castle, the exhibition adds something a little different to the experience. It turns the castle into something more interactive, encouraging visitors to explore each room and discover the characters waiting inside.
Overall, it’s an exhibition that combines art, humour, and storytelling, making it enjoyable for families, creatives, and anyone curious about seeing language brought to life through sculpture.