Ice and easy does it for local business

6th September 2006

A NEWLY established Liverpool business specialises in one of the coolest art forms around - ice sculptures.

The firm, Glacial Art, received a funding package from Merseyside Special Investment Fund for start-up costs. The £10,000 Small Firms Fund loan was used to purchase a special ice machine from the USA. They also received funding from the HSBC and the directors, Mat Foster and Mat Chaloner, used their own funds.

The two were university friends who went to London to look for work soon after graduating. Both enjoyed considerable success - Mat Chaloner did ice sculpting on the set of the last James Bond movie, Die Another Day, and Mat Foster worked on the costumes for the Harry Potter films, the Colin Farrell blockbuster Alexander the Great and for Angelina Jolie in Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.

After spending three years working on various projects, the two travelled to New Zealand and Australia, where they gained inspiration for and experience in making ice sculptures. They then returned to Liverpool to launch Glacial Art.

The business has already donated sculptures to the Marie Cure and Lily Centre cancer charities.

Mat Foster says: "Most of our clients so far have been private. For example, weddings, anniversaries, and a teddy bear sculpture for a christening, as well as a Liverpool football shirt sculpture for a birthday. We are keen to expand using our sculptures for advertising purposes - this is very popular in the drinks industry and we did a lot of similar work while we were in London."

Marian Catterall, investment director of MSIFís Small Firms Fund, said: "Glacial Art produces beautiful and innovative work which is sure to be in demand in a variety of markets. We were confident that given the right backing, they could make a success of their business idea."

Ends

For further information contact Angela White at Merseyside Special Investment Fund on 0151 236 4040

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Photo shows: L-R Mat Foster (Glacial Art), Marian Catterall (MSIF) and Mat Chaloner (Glacial Art)

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