Artist breaks world record with smallest sculpture ever

David A. Lindon took 34 attempts to create 'The Yellow Smiley Face' - measuring 11.037 by 12.330 microns.

He had previously held the World Record for the smallest handmade sculpture, named The Lego Brick, which measured 0.02517mm by 0.02184mm.

The 56-year-old spent six weeks trying to beat his own record, using crushed diamonds and microscopic fly hairs to create the piece- which he says is roughly the size of bacteria.

David, from Bournemouth, said: "I got into making the sculptures because I saw a TV programme that inspired me.

"I woke up in the middle of the night and thought, 'I can give this a go - I think I can get a microscope and I think I know how it's done.'

"I thought I could probably go a bit smaller. I find myself now inspired to see how small I can go.

"I've broken my own world record - it was a Lego brick which was incredibly small - and now I've gone half the size again.

"It's the same size as bacteria.

"I had to borrow a Nikon microscope from Amsterdam, and was very kindly sent a more powerful lens so I was able to work with that.

"It took me about six weeks and 34 attempts to create this marvelous micro masterpiece - a very tiny smiley face.

"What it's made out of is top secret - but what I can say is that a lot of my artworks are made from very fine microscopic migments.

"I use crushed diamonds and I attach those onto the end of my tools to allow me to carve and shape.

"I use hairs off the back of a fly for paintbrushes - they have to be so tiny you can't see them with the human eye."

David said he was grateful to Dr. Sarah Elliott and Jack Rose from Bournemouth University for measuring the new world record, and added that a miniature sculpture of a graduation certificate would be gifted to the institution to inspire future generations.

He also thanked Natalia Alexander at Nikon Europe for loaning the equipment necessary to create the piece.

David's work is available to view at Hammond Galleries - and while he says he doubts he will be able to break his own record a third time, he intends to keep creating micro sculptures.

"What I do is completely mad, but it's basically fine art!" he said.

"I'd like to try and leave something as a legacy. I'm so pleased I've been able to create this.

"The only way I can do this again is if I have an electron microscope - and they're worth about £100k each, so that's out of my budget!

"This was a torturous six weeks to make this thing - and I don't really fancy having to do it again!

"I've broken my own record twice, and I think that should hopefully stand the test of time."