Miniature model maker recreates Glasgow landmark destroyed by fire

A historic Glasgow building which was destroyed in a major fire has been recreated in miniature by an artist.

Karen Bones spent 10 weeks working on a replica of the B-listed Victorian building, known as Union Corner.

The model - which is made from recycled cardboard - depicts the businesses that were affected by the blaze.

It also features the building's landmark dome as well as the iconic signs which once adorned its roof.

Karen said: "After seeing the devastation on the TV, I felt compelled to try and recreate it because such a big part of my childhood was walking up and down Union Street and being fascinated by the Irn-Bru sign."

Karen, 54, swapped drawing and painting for cardboard models about four years ago.

Working from a renovated caravan in her garden in Larbert, she not only builds the pubs and clubs she worked in for nearly 20 years but also takes commissions through her small business, Bricks & Bones.

But she said her latest model of Union Corner is particularly special.

"My mum had a hairdresser shop on Cambridge Street so on a Saturday my dad would take me into town and we would go shopping, walking along Union Street," Karen said.

"It was a Saturday treat to go out with my dad and then we would pick my mum up from work afterwards.

"My dad passed away a long time ago so this model is sentimental because it reminds me of spending time with him as well."

Using photographs she had already and images online, Karen took measurements to help her scale the model.

She described the project - which measures about 25cm (10in) high and 50cm (20in) wide - as a "monster" and much bigger than anything she had worked on before.

But perhaps surprisingly, Karen said it was not heavy at all.

"The details were the biggest challenge," she said.

"There are thousands of individually hand-cut bricks and roof tiles, and 74 windows, which all had to be spaced out properly.

"I could have just painted them on or some people would have used a 3D printer but the way I do it makes it charming and different to what other people are doing."

Union Corner dates back to 1851, pre-dating Glasgow Central Station which opened in 1879.

Demolition work on the damaged building is still continuing and a cordon remains in place due to safety fears over the work.

The businesses along Union Street and Gordon Street had also changed since Karen was a child but she said she felt she had to include the shops that were affected by the fire.

"I had a dilemma before I started because finding a reference for the shops that I remember was really tricky and I don't think I could have done it justice through memory," she said.

"But then I also thought it would be disservice to change the shops that were lost.

"So I used the shop fronts from before the fire and brought back the Irn Bru and Bell's sign to include some of the old nostalgic aspects I remember."

Karen now hopes her model of Union Corner will find its rightful place as she looks to sell it.

"I would love for it to end up on display in Central Station so people can look at it and it can be appreciated as a stunning building," she said.