Tom Thumb Axes

Scotsman Ian Wilkie produced his first handcrafted, handpainted guitar pin in 1979 for his own pleasure.

Friends and guitarists alike were stunned by the accuracy and detail of the miniature and were soon asking for their 'own' instruments as 3 inch long replicas.

As word spread of Wilkie's unique craft enthusiastic admirers began snapping up his pins .These admirers include George Harrison, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Sting, Elton John, Iron Maiden, AC-DC, Jon Bon Jovi, Brian May, Keith Richards, Billy Gibbons, Billy Bragg and many others.

Wilkie starts his pins with a photograph of the guitar which is reduced to a 3inch long template. He then pastes the photograph to a thin piece of copper circuit board and cuts the shape with a fretsaw. After filing, he removes the photo, applies a white base coat of paint and then his true genius emerges. Using No.00000 sable brushes and micropoint architect's pens he painstakingly applies the surface details with enamel paints. Ranging in price from £80-£200, each piece is signed and dated.