South Shields artist created 'Angel of the North' likeness using 80,000 one pence coins

Jay Bryant, 52, from Harton, South Shields, describes an area of his work as ‘Coinism’ - his name for his amazing statues made from 1p and 5p pieces.

They include a recently completed four-and-a-half feet-tall image of the Angel of the North, made out of 80,000 one pences.

Just sold, it forms part of a multi-million-pound private UK collection – and another work is in the hands of a celebrity US music couple.

But the former Redwell Comprehensive School pupil’s works with hard cash make up just one area of his artistic range.

He also paints, sculpts and makes clay models – and many of his memorable images are of South Shields seafront.

Jay said: “I think I am the only person anywhere in the world doing this kind of work with coins, I’m gaining global recognition for it.

“The idea started when I used to drink in the Marsden Inn at Marsden, and saw that staff would take coins from change and build them up around a stack behind the bar.

“The idea stuck with me, and when I was looking for new ideas, that’s what I remembered. I call it ‘Coinism’ - I’ve invented my own genre.

“Someone who claimed to be from the Royal Mint told me years ago that I’m not allowed to sell the coins for more than their face value.

“I get around that by gifting the coins and selling the work, based on the central armature that the coins are built around.

“For the bigger works, there’s actually quite a lot of engineering, physics and maths that go into ensuring they stay up.”

Dad and grandfather Jay’s artistic breakthrough came 22 years ago when he was living homeless on London’s streets.

A businessman in a passing taxi spotted him on the pavement with his first coin artwork - and alighted to buy it for £500.

He then acted as Jay’s mentor and supporter, helping him find accommodation and backing his artistic ambitions – and they remain firm friends.

Jay added: “I was near Victoria train station and a man in a taxi saw this one bit of work. He got out and gave me £500 for it in £50 notes.

“I couldn’t believe it, he saved my life. I went from being homeless to being an artist in the blink of an eye.

“My coin work developed when I moved to Oxfordshire a year later. The people in the local bank got interested in my work because I’d get my coins from them.”

Jay, who is known professionally as Ant Bryant, stayed in Oxfordshire and other southern counties for over a decade, returned to his hometown six weeks ago.

His current projects include an Angel of the North sculpture made of slate and a sculpture made from thermalite insulation blocks and plaster for a civil rights museum in Philadelphia, US.

His work can be found on social media site Facebook under Jay Bryant, Marsden Sculptures, and Sterling Sculptures.

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