Sharon KulesaA model of Claudia Winkleman is the latest creation to appear on an artist’s garden fence.
Sharon Kulesa said the statue was inspired by the success of the latest series of The Traitors, which concluded on Friday.
It is the latest creation to go on display outside her home in Stowmarket, Suffolk, with previous designs including a depiction of Queen Elizabeth II and Ed Sheeran.
“Claudia is so iconic looking, and I think people love her, and I like to do something on the fence that’s quite relevant to what’s going on at the moment,” the 46-year-old said.
Kulesa said she hoped Winkleman would be “quite flattered in a way”.
“I think she’d find it hilarious,” she said. “I think she’d be quite tickled by it, really.”
Sharon KulesaThe receptionist and artist first started creating models of well-known stars during the coronavirus pandemic, starting with then Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Since then, life-sized models of the King, Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna, and Snow White have been among the creations outside her home.
She said a model of Suffolk pop star Ed Sheeran had been her favourite.
Sharon Kulesa“The reaction it produces from the community is just always amazing,” she said.
“People love it, especially the kids, because it’s on a main route to the primary school.”
Most of the designs were made from the same foundation, consisting of a mannequin, a pair of stuffed tights, and a head made of newspaper, kitchen foil, and masking tape.
Kulesa picks up most of the outfits for her creations from charity shops and second-hand websites such as Vinted to keep costs low.
Matt JeromeHer creativity has caught the attention of many locals, including Matt Jerome, who moved to the town in 2024.
He said he first noticed the models while walking his dogs, Oz and Dexter, soon after he moved.
“I do always look forward to seeing what might end up on the fence next, but Oz probably doesn’t agree as he always gets a jumpscare whenever there’s a new one,” the 33-year-old said.
His favourite character to spot was Stitch, the title character from the 2002 Disney film Lilo & Stitch, he added.
More than 1,000 people reacted to a photo of the Winkleman model on Facebook, including several other locals who said they enjoyed the design.
Asked what would come next, Kulesa said she was considering making a model of Winnie-the-Pooh to coincide with the character’s 100th birthday, but the yellow bear’s stature meant it would be a longer-term project.
