---
title: "Andrew Lancaster: Taxidermy’s Mad Scientist"
description: "OL sits down with Andrew Lancaster, a taxidermist from New Zealand who takes a unique approach to mounting animals."
date: "2011-09-12"
modified: "2011-09-12"
authors:
  - name: "Outdoor Life Staff"
    link: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/authors/outdoor-life-staff/"
url: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/photos/gallery/hunting/2011/09/andrew-lancaster-taxidermys-mad-scientist/"
categories:
  - "Hunting"
---

# Andrew Lancaster: Taxidermy’s Mad Scientist

![](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/5LEMN3D7KLA54TGBADYIIZYTC4.png>)

![](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/TEQ75VJGFXYMLJOPXG24V3AWW4.png>)
*Andrew Lancaster takes a creative approach to taxidermy. He combines different species and the result usually lands somewhere between creepy and brilliant. He's gained a pretty healthy following on Facebook (1,500 fans) and several news publications have run stories about him. We did a Q&A with Lancaster to get to know the man behind the mounts.*

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2011photo10013215791_24.png](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/POSL56OB5GCMGBZXNKJPD3BYSQ.png>)
***Outdoor Life:** How did you get started in taxidermy? **Andrew Lancaster:** I started skinning animals and birds for my brother in the UK, and started to do the whole process when I moved to New Zealand, 14 years ago.*

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images2011092_2.png](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/FYAROIRKDUR2QYJQQLUI64V3OE.png>)
***Q:** What inspired you to combine different animals? **A:** I started to create hybrids when I could only use good parts from one animal or bird and match with another. Something slightly different for people.*

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images2011093_2.png](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/E7FF7VPMBD2AISWLV5DTNKABMA.png>)
***Q:** What do you want people to know about your art? **A:** I am trying to create a different kind of taxidermy rather than just "the run of the mill."*

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2011photo10013215794_21.png](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/WCE3EJ4PAFUB56N67BKCDULPRM.png>)
***Q:** In your own words, how would you describe your taxidermy? **A:** I would like to say my work is modern art, and recycling stuff that would otherwise decay.*

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2011photo10013215795_17.png](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/K6BKHDXKIKCJPMAPB3YZDDIA6Y.png>)
***Q:** Is there a certain species of animal you like to work with the most? **A:** I like to mount hares as I always think they are an elegant beast.*

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images2011096_2.png](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/BAL5DPGSSZICPALWZU6COEVYII.png>)
***Q:** What is the most common response you get from people when they see your art? **A:** Most people are full of praise for my work, and only a minority find it distasteful.*

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images2011097_2.png](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/E56B2Z32I2RLB4MVSRLYBSXWDA.png>)
***Q:** Do you have a favorite piece that you've created? If so, what is it? **A:** One of my favorite pieces is a Mossum. It's on my Facebook photos. It was a possum body with a Magpie head and neck, and it just looked good.*

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2011photo10013215798_19.png](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/SKYYH4YDEZX2UJB6H2MJD4Q3HU.png>)
***Q:** Is taxidermy your full time profession or is it a hobby for you? **A:** It is a hobby and I am a marina caretaker during the day.*

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images2011099_2.png](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/MJNTXCHP7ULGY5COLMVVJGEQWQ.png>)
***Q:** What are you trying to say with your work? Is it meant to entertain people? Get them to think? Inspire them? All of the above? **A:** I hope to make people smile and enjoy my pieces.*

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2011photo100132157910_14.png](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/4PE23R5UZOCECCW6D4U62DHIPM.png>)
*You can find more of Andrew's work here and on his [Facebook page](<https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=371179762417#!/group.php?gid=371179762417&v=wall>). To buy his work, go to [Trademe.com.](<https://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=845727>)*

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2011photo100132157911_16.png](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/CTRHGNTRM4QFZPDNJSYIQOIBMI.png>)

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2011photo100132157912_15.png](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/7NLKWDD3DCTD3TRHKQ336OCOGQ.png>)

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images20110913_0.png](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/RBEMOWNCG5NTAHWC6YOKRZI5IA.png>)

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images20110914_0.png](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/KUEQFHCURMLQEQCGE7B3XEWON4.png>)

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2011photo100132157915_11.png](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/NIADKHBTDO4XUWFMBQFCYAEXPU.png>)

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images20110916_0.png](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/EHFQBGT6IIYSAHXCDZHUO6AMKI.png>)

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images20110917_0.png](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/6IM3BYYUK4H7KS3XB2BZ7Q45BM.png>)

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images20110918_0.png](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/KW3MMX5JFDSQDXXTPVMYTH5SWY.png>)

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2011photo100132157919_10.png](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/HSLFZ3SR4VRBI32EV3AM4DNYAM.png>)

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images20110920_0.png](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/CDVA5QYODD6YUELSLGQXSTURNU.png>)

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images20110921_0.png](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/4XQEE4V2R64JKY6M3DTZ5K2VG4.png>)

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images20110922_0.png](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/JV2JDI4SN6ZBPUHXMCBNUY7WUI.png>)

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images20110923_0.png](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/R5RBGN7NJKUFTTSIDJPW55KHG4.png>)

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2011photo100132157924_5.png](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/RL27YVN4OEAOHNHKLXYOO5GWGU.png>)

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2011photo100132157925_6.png](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/H6YUHLS22WIGRHMJXGFBULTPQU.png>)
***More Taxidermy Photos***
 *[Top Taxidermy](</photos/gallery/hunting/2010/09/top-taxidermy/>)*
 *Texas Taxidermy*
 *Badly Stuffed Animals: The Worst Taxidermy Mounts from Facebook*

Outdoor Life sits down with Andrew Lancaster, a taxidermist from New Zealand who has a unique approach to mounting animals.