Me and my Dragon, Thorn

1st Model

Animals & Creatures Fantasy & Sci-Fi Exhibition & Display

Thorn is a 7ft long dragon, my interpretation of the character Thorn from Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Cycle.

Full body photo of thorn

Thorn close up

Thorn was built as a promo prop and photo opportunity, designed to fit in at a festival or convention.
The character is an adolescent dragon, born into captivity under an evil king and raised too quickly as a weapon of war. His pose is defensive, reflective of scared mammals like foxes and dogs, with his wings raised in the way birds do to make themselves appear bigger.

The dragon's body has a wooden skeleton with box-section joints, allowing the wings and tail to be removed for transport. He is primarily a polysculpture with epoxy sculpted skin. The wings have aluminium 'bones' and a warbler membrane for that leathery look. His spikes and horns were sculpted, moulded and cast, and the sculpture was airbrushed and hand-finished.

2nd Model

Other Animals & Creatures Props & Sets

Egyptian God Anubis Puppet done muppet style with free-moving ears.

Anubis Puppet

This project was my first time sewing, foam crafting and working with patterns. I chose to make a sculpture of the figure first and draft my own pattern from it. I then edited the pattern twice to achieve the characteristic face. I also drafted the weighted ear mechanism and all of his accessories from my own designs. He is a classically constructed muppet made of poly and upholstery foam, with a fleece skin.

Overall, I really enjoyed foam crafting and went on to teach a few private beginner pattern drafting workshops for creature puppets.

3rd Model

Animals & Creatures Fantasy & Sci-Fi Props & Sets

Marcus is a freakily lifelike spider, designed to be as scary as possible for arachnophobes.

Marcus the spider

This model has a base, but is freestanding, so it can be strategically held or placed around to scare people. It's flocked to have an uncomfortable, hairy texture and painted with glossy eyes that almost follow you.

The sculpture itself is an aluminium armature with epoxy putty over the top. airbrushed, flocked and hand finished.

Gallery

Retro TV for a podcast client

Dragon tails and Eggs designed and made for the Brighton Pavilion

orca automata

owl automata close up

Me and my Dragon, Thorn

Layla Pitts

Northbrook Metropolitan College

Prop making and Special effects BA (hons)

Stand: 13
Graduation: 2026

I enjoy working in a variety of media. As a prop maker, I specialise in both additive and reductive sculpture, as well as creature design and fabrication on both large and small scales. I have experience finding projects independently, and as a group, some clients I've worked with include the Ren Faire UK, Brighton Pavilion and a podcast. I enjoy working on a team, with clients, and aspire to participate in larger-scale projects in the future.

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Me and my Dragon, Thorn

Full body photo of thorn

Thorn close up

Anubis Puppet

Marcus the spider

Retro TV for a podcast client

Dragon tails and Eggs designed and made for the Brighton Pavilion

orca automata

owl automata close up

Links

Portfolio goo15.com Instagram @Goo15_emporium LinkedIn layla-pitts-30325b219

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