I completely forgot to say, I made a haunted Mesoamerican relic for The Great Leicester Ghost Hunt. Now the event is over, I can finally post my workshop photos! My thanks to the teams at @mbd_vr and @bidleicester for a fun project! @leicesterfest #aztec #mayan #mesoamerica #propmaking #evafoam

I love my job. Except today. And most of yesterday. #propmaking #scenicart

New (and rather spooky) project in the pipeline! Outdoor Arts UK Leicester Festivals & Events Leicestershire Live Cool As Leicester Visit Leicester #greatleicesterghosthunt #ghosts #halloween www.instagram.com/p/DOa35iViM3...

The Ancient Giants will be in Stoke this Friday and Saturday for The Big Feast Festival! @appetite_stoke @inspirateuk #puppet #giantpuppet #puppetry #ancientgiants #stokeontrent @outdoorartsuk @britishpuppetguild @britishunima

Who dances best? #ancientgiants hit @aisfestival Produced by @inspirateuk Funded by @withoutwalls.uk @leicesterfest @outdoorartsuk @puppetplace @puppeteersuk @britishunima @britishpuppetguild @aboutleicester @visitleicester #puppet #giantpuppet

Thanks to @indre.r.art for this brilliant photo of Ravan at @curve_leicester for @aisfestival Produced by @inspirateuk Funded by @withoutwalls.uk @leicesterfest @outdoorartsuk #puppet #giantpuppet #dancing

The Ancient Giants hit @curve_leicester for @aisfestival Produced by @inspirateuk Funded by @withoutwalls.uk Puppeteers: @kneadnaan @rayorayrayo @karla.m.jones @aljessop86 @maisyyhluk and Paloma Styles #puppet #giantpuppet www.instagram.com/reel/DLxvWJ3...

I’m watching the original 1970’s Wombles. For work! Might actually be living the dream! #wombles

It would be lovely to get a preview image on this. As we can’t… Yay! We’ll be at the Indian Summer Festival this July! www.instagram.com/p/DKu6qvVsIf...

Prototype and finished phoenix puppet for the @bamboozletheatre production, Firebird. Puppeteers: @lorihopkinspuppeteer @ben_moores_theatre and Craig Byrne. #puppet #giantpuppet #mythicalcreature #mythicalbeast #evafoam #foamsmith #firebird #phoenix #mrcleaversmonsters

Get Ready With Me! Brimstone has a new tail and will be touring this year with @autindt @johnny.autin @outdoorartsuk @puppetplace @britishpuppetguild @britishunima @leicesterfest @aboutleicester #grwm #brimstone #dragon #mythicalbeast #puppet #giantpuppet #puppetry #evafoam #foamsmith

Ravan charming the visitors at York Mela this weekend! Ancient Giants is produced by Inspirate Ltd. With puppeteers Rayo Patel, Sanjay Dattani and Adam Jessop. With thanks to @withoutwalls.uk #puppet #giantpuppet #ancientgiants #walkaround #outdoortheatre www.instagram.com/reel/DJkHzQ7...

Just a Demon King living his best life. See the Ancient Giants on tour this summer. Produced by Inspirate Ltd. Puppeteers: @rayorayrayo @sanjay.dattani17 @chandnipremgi @withoutwalls.uk #ancientgiants #puppet #giantpuppet #puppetry #evafoam #mrcleaversmonsters vm.tiktok.com/ZNdj3gv5C/

Another from the archive. Testing an arm mechanism. Music: Gogo Penguin, Wash. #gogopenguin #puppet #giantpuppet #puppetry

Some more shots from the Roots Of Our Tree installation, designed by myself, produced by Inspirate Ltd, and made with young people from across Leicester. Photographer: Tom Platinum Morely. www.instagram.com/p/DHobNVLsEl...

We’re all about the Dragon Positivity here, people. #dragons #mythicalbeasts #puppets #giantpuppets #brimstone #mrcleaversmonsters

Happy World Puppetry Day! Here’s a sneak peek into what I’ve been up to with the @InspirateUk #AncientGiants team! www.instagram.com/reel/DHeH32T...

See The Roots Of Our Tree installation at Leicester Cathedral through March. Designed by Tom Cleaver and produced by Inspirate, the piece features leaves decorated by primary school students from the city, plus members of the Belgrave Library Knitting Group and Highfields Centre.

A few quick shots from the recent Cosmopolitan Arts Chinese New Year celebrations. Cosmo and Cosima got their annual meander and the new dragon boats got their first outing! #chinesenewyear #puppets #giantpuppets #dragons #chinesedragon #dragonboat #leicester #mrcleaversmonsters

Join us today for Little Dragons at Highcross Leicester from 1pm today! We’ll be there as part of Cosmopolitan Arts Chinese New celebrations! #chinesenewyear #lunarnewyear #dragons #chinesedragons #papercraft

No, I didn’t want to be working on a Sunday. Again. But I did manage to solve the suspension-system puzzle I’ve been swearing at for the past 2 days. (Previous prototypes pictured). #theatredesign #propmaking

@markwitton.bsky.social Hi Mark, Just letting you know Reuters have used one of your artworks. Didn’t see a credit. www.reuters.com/science/wher...

Slight shortage of space in The Beastiary this week due to the presence of a rather large dragon. #brimstone #animamachina #puppetry #puppets #giantpuppets #evafoam #foamsmith #mythicalcreatures #dragon #mrcleaversmonsters

Any puppet makers and puppeteers out there? Interested in all types, from lo-fi, fun builds made from scraps to crazy complex animatronic projects and performances. #puppetry #puppets

What a great way to end 2024 and start 2025, with one of my puppets on national television! Here’s Eko partying with his Autin Dance Theatre family on The National Lottery Big Bash! #animamachina #puppetry #giantpuppets vm.tiktok.com/ZGdknjXvt/

This book, first published in 1958, is a big deal for armour enthusiasts and took months to find at a reasonable price. I like the inscription. My own interest concerns articulation methods and how they might apply to puppetry-design. #armour #claudeblair #puppetry #puppets

My prototype Firebird puppet, built for Bamboozle Theatre. #animamachina #puppetry #puppets #giantpuppets #cardboard #phoenix #mythicalcreatures

Building stages of ‘Hugel’ for @theatrefactory.bsky.social and a little musical easter egg for all you Steven Universe fans! #puppetry

Something a little spooky for the festive season - my Ghost Of Christmas Future, made for 14/48 Leicester! #puppetry #puppets #giantpuppets #animamachina #foamsmith #evafoam

Is now a good time for a Ghost Of Christmas Future? Built for 1448 Leicester. #puppetry #evafoam #animamachina

Giant puppet adventures in Crawley! www.threads.net/@mr_cleavers...

Here’s Cosmo, one of the dragons I’ve built for Cosmopolitan Arts. #dragons #puppetry #giantpuppets

Here’s what I look like, up a ladder, distressing rockets! #scenicart #scenicpainting www.threads.net/@mr_cleavers...

Here’s Eko, the sea giant I designed and built for Autin Dance Theatre. See him in London soon! #puppetry

And here’s one of my characters making friends in Warrington. I’ve struggled to find an audience on other social media platforms and have considered giving up, so likes, shares and follows would be very much appreciated!

First post on Blue Sky so here’s what I do… I design theatre sets, draw cats and make massive puppets out of EVA foam. Please join me on my creative journey. #puppets #giantpuppets #theatredesign #illustration #dragons #evafoam #foamsmithing