We are thrilled to announce that we are now stocking the new wooden automata models designed by renowned artist Rob Ives. The models will be available in the Museum or from our online shop.

Rob Ives is a British automata maker who creates intricate and whimsical mechanical sculptures that are beloved by people of all ages. His work is characterized by its attention to detail, its sense of humour, and its ability to capture the imagination of viewers.

Rob began making automata in the early 1990s after discovering a book on the subject. He was immediately drawn to the art form, which combines engineering, sculpture, and storytelling in a unique way. He began creating his own designs, experimenting with different materials and techniques until he had developed a distinctive style that was all his own.

One of the things that makes Rob’s work so special is his attention to detail. He carefully crafts each piece, ensuring that every element is just right. He also pays close attention to the mechanics of his automata, using his engineering background to create machines that are not only beautiful to look at but also function perfectly.

Another hallmark of Rob’s work is his sense of humour. Many of his automata are designed to be funny or whimsical, with characters that dance, play music, or perform other silly actions. This sense of playfulness makes his work appealing to people of all ages, from young children who delight in the movement of the machines to adults who appreciate the craftsmanship and creativity involved.

In addition to creating his own automata, Ives also shares his knowledge and skills with others. He has written several books on the subject, including “Making Mechanical Marvels In Wood” and “Paper Engineering and Pop-ups For Dummies.” He also offers workshops and classes, teaching others how to create their own automata using his techniques.

Overall, Rob Ives is a true master of the art of automata making. His work is both beautiful and fun, and his passion for the craft is evident in everything he creates. Whether you’re a fan of mechanical sculpture, engineering, or just good old-fashioned fun, Rob’s automata are sure to delight and inspire you.

Rob Ives Mad Factory

As we announced earlier this week, MAD has officially reopened its doors to the public after an enforced closure of more than 4 months due to the Coronavirus pandemic. We’ve made quite a few changes to the museum in order to prepare for reopening, a lot of these have been necessary in order to maximise the safety of our staff and visitors. Being a highly interactive tourist attraction is far from ideal when a deadly virus is still in circulation and the Government are telling us not to touch anything, so we’ve been very busy making the museum as safe as possible.

Sadly that means that our immensely popular “MAD Marbles Wall” is temporarily off limits, however it will be back as soon as it is safe to do so. In the meantime it has opened up some previously unavailable space for a few brand new exhibits! This includes a wonderful, 5ft mechanical spider (pictured) created by one of MAD’s favourite resident artists, Steve Sherwin. Steve carefully studied how real spiders move before he designed it, in order to come up with the most realistic rendition possible. The finished piece is incredibly lifelike, so perhaps don’t get too close if you’re scared of spiders!

Steve, from Staffordshire, already features a number of his works in MAD, including the double sided rolling machine “Mech Ball”. Check out more of Steve’s work on his website.

A giant, creepy mechanical spider isn’t all that’s new at MAD this summer. The museum now also houses a truly fantastic work of automata by another of MAD’s favourite artists, Wanda Sowry. Entitled “Self Portrait”, this incredible piece is unlike any automata you’ve ever seen in that it actually features the artist herself at work. It really needs to be seen to be believed, so book your trip to MAD now and see it in action! Visit here for tickets. 

MAD is also now displaying a brand new piece of automata by the European artist Yuri Sharov, a great exhibit featuring the work William Shakespeare. All these new exhibits can be seen at MAD right now so what are you waiting for?!

For tickets visit here or call 01789 269 356 and select option 1. We are open 7 days a week in August, from 10am to 5.30pm every single day. Tickets MUST be prebooked.

Ali Pickard is a trained metalwork artist and designer who is just getting into making automata.

She recently visited our MAD Museum and wrote an article about her trip for A-N The Artist Information Company. https://www.a-n.co.uk/

We are currently preparing 3 fantastic new pieces of automata ready for exhibiting. These sculptures were all made by the legendary automata maker, Keith Newstead.

We first came to hear about these one-of-a-kind pieces when a private collector contacted us. Over the years he had amassed over 70 pieces of automata. Now looking to downsize his house, the collector wanted to sell some of the larger sculptures.  He offered them to The MAD Museum because he knew we were the UK’s centre for mechanical art and that we would give them a good home. 

All three sculptures are in perfect condition and are currently in the process of being wired up and properly protected for presentation. The largest of the new additions will be the biggest piece of automata that we have ever displayed at our museum. This quirky sculpture plays a full rendition of “Run Rabbit Run” sung by Keith Newstead himself. 

We’ve exhibited several of Keith Newstead’s creations in the past and we sell his paper automata kits in our gift shop. Keith Newstead is one of the most famous automata artists in the word, find out more about him here –

These exhibits will be on display from the beginning of the Summer holiday, come down to see them for yourself.