STABLE lad turned sculptor Tom Hiscocks has combined the two loves of his life by creating works of art that this week are playing starring roles at Royal Ascot.

Mr Hiscocks, 55, who works from a studio in Pewsey has two large sculptures on show in the Royal Enclosure of the race meeting which started on Tuesday.

His sculptures Drinking Horse, which is 2.5 metres high is made of copper, stainless steel and Portland stone from the local Chilmark Quarry, overlooks the finishing line while Penelope a sculpture of a life sized horse trotting is right outside the Royal Box.

He will be in the Royal Enclosure on Thursday for the showpiece day of the week which is a favourite of the Queen and other senior royals.

He said: "It is an honour to have my pieces on show. I only went to art college when I was in my 40s as part of a bit of a midlife crisis. I had worked with horses as a stable lad for a number of years and understood how they move which was good for my work."

He moved to Pewsey three years ago and shares the The Fred Baier Studio in the High Street. It will be open as part of Marlborough Open Studios on July 6 and 7 and 13 and 14.