TWO local artists have produced a six foot tall poignant mesh artwork, called Poppy Tom, in Seaton.

Named in honour of a relative of one of the two artists, the piece was inspired out of loss, when a tree on Jackson Street had fallen and was lost for ever, leaving the perfect plinth for a sculpture in remembrance of the unknown soldier.

Both artists prefer to "remain as nameless as the soldiers who he represents have to."

The idea was to do something special for Seaton for the 100th anniversary of Armistice.

One of the artists said: "Poppy Tom is around 6 foot tall, made of fencing wire and overlaid with chicken wire to define his features. He is standing easy on his plinth of poppies made from recycled bottle bottoms made by volunteers. One of these is a purple poppy to represent the animals lost at war – he also carries the bridle from his horse that will never return. Tens of thousands of animals were shipped over and the majority did not return. He bears three poppies on the bridle and over his heart – red for the men who are remembered, purple for the animals and white for peace. His form features are deliberately indistinct and very lightly worked so he can represent whoever anyone needs him to be."

The sculpture was created from materials that would otherwise go to landfill or recycling. All are gifted to the artists so the only cost in this artwork is their time.

The piece took around a month to complete and was fitted around their lives and work: "It was quite hard work but the result is, for us, so worthwhile and he has been met with a lot of praise and kind words," one of the artists added.

Poppy Tom will go to Low Seaton Methodist Chapel to be displayed in there once he is "off duty", and from there it hasn't been decided what will happen to him, but the artists are open to suggestions.

Please contact us for your thoughts on what should happen to Poppy Tom by emailing letters.ts@cnmedia.co.uk