A Bafta-nominated model maker who designed sets for films and TV shows says he will continue creating intricate miniatures of his town “until he dies”.
Mike Perry moved to Folkestone nine years ago to escape the queues of traffic and exhaust fumes building up outside his former home in Leeds, near Maidstone.
Mike Perry’s work can be seen in his workshop at The Stables in Tontine Street or in Kollectiv
The 81-year-old spent his entire career in the film and TV industry, working on productions including The Italian Job and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.
Since retiring at the end of the 20th century, Mr Perry has been determined to keep his brain active by continuing to produce work of his own – including railway models and miniature scenes in jars.
Now known as The Folkestone Miniaturist, he has built a name for himself in the town through his delicate designs.
Speaking to KentOnline from his Tontine Street workshop, he said: “I’m going to be doing this until I die – it’s so important after you retire to keep active and doing the things you love.
“Many of my younger friends used retirement as an excuse to do nothing and some of them have kicked the bucket.
“I’ve been creating miniature environments with lots of atmosphere, with the most recent creations being in jars.
Mr Perry has recently started filling jars with miniature tributes to famous authors and artists
“It’s nice to also use my work to create models of Folkestone as I feel part of the community here – it’s lovely.”
The father-of-two has recreated several of the town’s venues in miniature, such as Moo Like A Monkey, Objectables and the Folkestone Museum.
His fascination with small-scale models stretches back to his television career, where he was tasked with building miniature versions of sets before they were transformed into full-size productions.
Mr Perry says his artwork allows him to stay connected to the career he loved – something he describes as “an absolute joy”.
His work even earned him a Bafta nomination for the set design of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, after being handed the first-ever £1 million television scenery budget.
The TV series follows the adventures of a group of British workmen who get placed together on a building site in West Germany.
The 82-year-old moved to Folkestone in 2017 after moving from Leeds, near Maidstone
“Being nominated wasn’t really important to me, I wasn’t after that tag,” he admitted.
“What really made me happy was when I looked back on any film or series I was involved in and felt proud.
“I don’t think we got the Bafta anyway because I think they thought we’d filmed it on a real building site instead of making our own.”
Alongside recreating Folkestone businesses, Mr Perry also fills jars with miniature tributes to famous authors and artists.
Among the pieces on display in his workshop are creations inspired by Terry Pratchett and Banksy, with each drawing on subtle references from their work.
Every model takes several weeks to complete and is made almost entirely from upcycled materials, including discarded rubbish, paper, balsa wood, card and foam board.
Folkestone’s Mike Perry who worked on The Italian Job says he will continue making art “until he dies”
Mr Perry’s love of art began in Birmingham, where he was born, after being inspired by his school teacher, Mr Francis.
Despite opting out of art lessons because of his “terrible drawing skills”, a Tuesday matinee performance of Shakespeare’s The Tempest at Birmingham Rep proved to be a “lightbulb moment”.
He later attended Birmingham Art College, launching a career in design and art despite his father insisting he should get a “proper job” instead.
Asked what advice he would give to anyone hoping to break into the industry, he said: “Just work hard and be as creative as you can and original as you can, push your boundaries.
“Be enthusiastic and have a strong attitude – it goes so far.”
Mr Perry’s work is on display at Kollectiv in Folkestone’s Old High Street.