Beatles to be sculpted from trees live at the Pier Head

They sang about Norwegian Wood – but now The Beatles are set to be immortalised in wood themselves.

Award-winning sculptor Simon O’Rourke will carve the Fab Four out of a quartet of tree trunks using his trademark chainsaw skills.

And visitors to Liverpool’s Pier Head during August will be able to watch the 39-year-old at work in a purpose-built arena over three Sundays, before he finishes with a statue of John Lennon on Bank Holiday Monday.

Paul McCartney will be the first Beatle to be carved, this Sunday starting at noon. George Harrison will take shape on August 20, and drummer Ringo Starr on August 27.

Each sculpture, depicting The Beatles in their moptop heyday, will take up to seven hours to complete, using both large and small chainsaws. Just don’t try it at home!

Simon says: “My work in the past has ranged from small figurines to six and seven foot tall statues, but I’ve never done anything of this kind before.

Simon O'Rourke creates sculptures using a chainsaw

“I’m really excited to see the final product when they’re all revealed side by side on Bank Holiday Monday.

“I’ll be bringing plenty of pictures of The Beatles down to the Pier Head with me so I get each member down to a tee, and of course there is added pressure as my work will take place right next to the iconic statue of the Fab Four.”

The event is part of the Pier Head Village programme on the waterfront this summer.

Simon O’Rourke trained as an illustrator before becoming a tree surgeon, and has competed in chainsaw carving competitions across the globe.