Cartoon family proves winner

Apr 15 2009 by Chris Knox, The Journal

ONE of America's most famous families has helped a former shopfitter to carve out a successful business which is winning fans across the country.

Darlington-based Paul Young has launched Craft Village UK which commissions craftsmen in Africa and India to produce busts of Homer, Bart and other characters from the world’s best loved animated series, The Simpsons.

He won approval from Simpsons producer 20th Century Fox Television as well as creator Matt Groening and is now shipping the sculptures as far as Russia and the USA.

The soapstone figures take up to two days to carve and are providing steady work for a number of struggling developing communities.

The sculptures, which are currently sold in a wide range of independent stores, are also being trialled at a well-known comics and science fiction memorabilia chain in London, which Paul hopes will help him to expand the business by the end of the year.

He is also in talks with his overseas manufacturers to develop a new line of sculptures based on another popular animated characters as well as special editions of his Simpsons line made out of materials such as marble and granite.