VIDEO and PICTURES: Record-breaking sculptor heads back to 'diamond' hometown

"I am testimony to the fact that people can emerge from Wolverhampton as diamonds."

These are the words of Willard Wigan MBE, the world famous microscopic artist from who is bringing his record-breaking creations back to his home city with a special exhibition starting with a mini Noddy Holder.

It's just one of the new pieces of art he will be adding to his collection which has wowed audience around the globe.

The 58-year-old, originally from Ashmore Park Estate in Wednesfield, will be staging the show at the Lighthouse gallery in Wolverhampton to help celebrate its 30 year anniversary.

His tiny tribute to the Slade frontman will form part of the exhibition which will run from March 13 until May 2.

The Slade frontman himself will be there to unveil his tiny counterpart, which he will be keeping under wraps until it's revealed.

"In the 1970s Noddy Holder was one of the biggest household names, not only in Wolverhampton and the UK but in the world. My sculpture will recognise that," said Mr Wigan who creates his pieces in the eye of a needle or on the head of a pin.

Mr Wigan also has plans to create a microscopic Madam Tussauds, featuring an array of famous celebrities as well as a miniature version of the Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe, featuring 25 children well as the old woman, who will be wearing tiny glasses.

The artist often finds he goes into a meditate state whilst working at night in his studio in Birmingham. "It's like I become part of that microscopic world." he said.

His advice to budding artists looking to develop their craft is 'be patient'. "I have developed an incredible amount of patience over the years. Everyone is always rushing around and not really seeing what's in front of them. Take your time," he said.

Mr Wigan's career began at the tender age of five, when he started building houses for ants. "I saw that one of the ants' nests had been destroyed in our garden and I got very upset. I thought I have to help them otherwise no one else will. I went upstairs and got one of my dad's razor blades. I took it apart and wedged it into a piece of wood. Then I used little flecks of wood to create their houses, the furniture, and cellophane for the windows. When my mother saw it all, she was speechless."

He was inspired by the words of his mother, who always encouraged him to make things smaller and smaller.

"My mother always said to me 'the smaller you make them the bigger you'll be' and that really stuck with me."

Times were not always easy for Mr Wigan, who has what he calls a 'learning difference' – a mild form of autism.

He said: "When I was at school, I was humiliated on a regular basis. One day, I'll never forget this, my teacher asked me to write my name on the board. I couldn't do it. So I drew a little man on the board that was meant to be me. My teacher didn't like that and paraded me around the school.

"She said 'This is what failure looks like. When Willard is older he is going to be emptying bins."

Mr Wigan was given an MBE for his services to art by the Queen in 2007. She had asked him to create a microscopic version of her coronation crown.

"She said, 'It's the biggest little gift I've ever received!'" said Mr Wigan. It is on display in her private study at Buckingham Palace.