About

My name is William Kuhn, I grew up on a rural farm in Warmbaths, surrounded by the rhythms of rural life and the wide-open spaces of the countryside. My earliest and most important inspiration came from my best friend, who lived nearby. He introduced me to the world of wire cars, and together we spent countless hours creating.

We would shape frames from scrap wire, tie the pieces together, and cut wheels from cooldrink cans. At first our models were simple, but we soon challenged each other to add more and more detail – side mirrors, exhausts, even miniature petrol tanks that slowly leaked so we had to stop for fuel during our races around the house. Those wire cars were more than just toys. They were my first lessons in creativity, problem-solving, and the joy of making something from almost nothing.

But these memories are also bittersweet. We lived during the days of apartheid, and after school our paths split. I went on to university, while my friend, unable to afford further education, could not. Not long after, my parents sold the farm, and with that, we lost contact. To this day I still wonder what happened to him – the friend who first showed me how to turn scraps of wire into something alive.

My studies eventually carried me into the corporate world of banking and financial services, a career that lasted 38 years. During those years, I married and we were blessed with two boys. Life was full – family, work deadlines, responsibilities – and for a long time, I no longer built wire cars. The passion of my childhood seemed to fade quietly into the background.

It was only much later, during holidays at our family house in Betty’s Bay, that I rediscovered my art. In the quiet of that coastal place, I began creating again. At first, I returned to wire cars, but soon I expanded – building planes and boats too. Those holiday moments became a sanctuary, a way to reconnect with the imagination and joy of my youth.

Now retired, I finally have the time to follow my dream fully. With the constant love and encouragement of my wife, I have dedicated myself to perfecting my art. The themes of my work now often reach back into history – vintage racing cars and the airplanes of the early 20th century. Each piece I build is not only a model but also a tribute to the spirit of invention and beauty from another time.

I work without blueprints or technical drawings. A single picture is enough. I hold the image in my mind and translate it into form, scaling it into a model entirely by eye. Using copper wire, copper plate, and simple soldering techniques, I shape detailed, intricate works that carry both nostalgia and craftsmanship.

What began as childhood play has grown into a lifelong journey – a way of honoring the past, celebrating creativity, and finding joy in the act of making. My art is, in many ways, a continuation of those days on the farm in Warmbaths: a reminder that even the simplest scraps can be transformed into something alive, something meaningful, something beautiful.