There’s a graceful giraffe, a brightly colored dragonfly and a spider! At first glance, they all look like wonders from the animal kingdom. But look a little closer and you’ll spot a woman’s hand here, her foot poking out there, or the outline of her torso twisted into an extraordinary pose. These are the images of “body concept artist†Emma Fay with the help from a couple of contortionists who acted as her human “canvasâ€.
The eyes on this crab are shining out of the shoulder blades of Miss Fay’s model.
The stuff of nightmares! You wouldn't want this giant tarantula under your bed – no matter how elegantly it was painted.
When white lines are painted on the models' bodies, so they can relax again later.
The structure of the animal is in place, Miss Fay can check it's worked, then paint the rest using a sponge and brush.
The body paint takes many hours to apply, and the colours are chosen carefully to match those of the intended animals.
Finishing touches…
One model takes the position for the crab portrait against a bright white background.
It takes great patience, talent and upper body strength to find the west African mandrill in Leicester.
One of the talented contortionists is transformed by Miss Fay into a glittering, multi-coloured dragonfly.
