Miniature model maker Dean Sarsfield writes about his hobby, which recently had him downsize a much-loved Holborn pub — and now has him nominated for a prestigious art prize.
"I could easily do 100 hours a week and it doesn't feel like work."
As a stay-at-home dad in Limerick, Ireland making miniature models became a way to combine a creative outlet with art and 3D printing, have fun and meet new people.
I was working in Aircraft leasing with a few engineering degrees under my belt but one of us needed to stay at home with the kids. I started making these dioramas/miniatures in February of this year. I made one of my friends as a joke, shared it with my friends' WhatsApp group for a bit of craic and realised I loved it. I haven't stopped since.
Niall, one of the owners of Ye Old White Horse in Holborn, started following me on Instagram. I thought it was a bit random that a London pub was following me. But I reached out and pitched the idea, and it went from there.
I really wanted the chance to make Ye Old White Horse as it looked cool, totally different from my usual work here in Limerick. It's a beautiful old pub with real character — exactly the kind of building I love recreating.
"I run out of acetate for the windows I've found that the clear plastic on Barbie boxes that my daughter has are very useful"
I don't know if you’ve ever tried to measure a random pub but it can be quite difficult. Eventually you figure out a measuring process. When you have measurements then you can start scaling things down. I normally work on a 1:24 scale which means it's 24 times smaller than the real thing. No specific reason why but I seem to be comfortable at this size and the finished pieces can normally fit on a shelf, so it's a win.
Then I build the core structure. From there it's about layering in the character, texturing the render, matching the paint colours (the White Horse's dark, weathered olive/bottle green took some getting right), then adding the fine details: hand-painted figures, tiny period touches like a "Lovely day for a Guinness" poster, floor tiling — and zooming into the photos to find random signs that really add the essence of the pub.
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The base is plywood, the structure is foam board, cardboard, plastic, wood. I usually try to use whatever is at hand in my tiny office. Sometimes if I run out of acetate for the windows I've found that the clear plastic on Barbie boxes that my daughter has are very useful. Washing up liquid bottles can become desk lamps, really whatever is at hand can be used. The only limit is your imagination.
I’m like a kid playing with action figures. I love layering the paints to try to recreate real-life colours, adding textures with decorator's caulk and rolling a ball of tinfoil over it.
"I sized the model so I could slip it under the seat in front of me on the Ryanair flight"
I offered to hand deliver the pub when it was completed, partly because I didn't want it getting destroyed in postage/delivery and partly because I wanted to visit London. I worked in Stansted Airport a number of years ago working for Ryanair Engineering, so jumped at the chance to come back for a visit.
I sized the model so I could slip it under the seat in front of me on the Ryanair flight. That way I always had eyes on it and it couldn't get damaged. When I handed it over it felt amazing, something that I had been working on in my office alone for so long was now in London with new owners and they were delighted with the result. It was an amazing feeling, which is something I chase with every handover. What a buzz.
The model is now proudly up behind the bar on a shelf. If anyone wants to go check it out then please do so. Make sure to say Dean sent you.
As well as seeing Dean's model of the White Horse in the pub, his work Little Limerick goes on display at the Bomb Factory, Marylebone, as part of the 2026 Cass Art prize exhibition from 6-14 November 2026.
Dean is open to more commissions, so if you're a pub/business/building who fancies looking to downsize, contact him vis his Instagram.
