THE SUBMINIATURIST

We all like miniature reproductions - they are the basis of scale modelling - but British artist Willard Wigan makes even the tiny Z-gauge (1:220 scale) look mountainous by comparison.

52 year-old Willard uses a microscope and tiny surgical instruments to make sculptures that fit inside the eye of a needle. To paint them he uses a hair from a dead fly (ugh) and the results - such as a Santa Claus and a soccer World Cup trophy - are no more than 0.005 mm (0.0002in) high.

It’s good to know that the painstaking work earns good money for Willard - two years ago sports businessman David Lloyd bought 70 pieces for £11.2 million GBP ($16.65 million USD).