Ali Baba 2005

Photo - Thief in a barrel on a donkeyThis was the first feature I worked on when I started at Blackpool Illuminations.

Scenes like this are created by carving huge polystyrene blocks (approximately 8ft x 4ft x 2ft), using very technical equipment such a kitchen carving knife and sandpaper! The models are then fibreglassed for strength and then painted.

I carved around half of the figures for this tableau, including the man popping out from behind the cactus, a donkey, several of the men hiding in pots and some of the rock face. I also painted many of the figures and parts of the backcscene using water-based paints and spray guns.

The finished tableau has colour changing lights, arabian music, a waterfall, animated figures and a secret cave which opens to reveal some hidden treasure!

Photo Gallery

Photo - Original 3D concept design for donkey and thief (by Graham Ogden) - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough
Original 3D concept design for donkey and thief (by Graham Ogden) - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough

Photo - Colour guide concept design (by Graham Ogden) - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough
Colour guide concept design (by Graham Ogden) - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough

Photo - Sarah Myerscough (me) carving the thief destined for the donkey - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough
Sarah Myerscough (me) carving the thief destined for the donkey - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough

Photo - The fibreglassed donkey with a base coat of paint - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough
The fibreglassed donkey with a base coat of paint - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough

Photo - Finished painted cactus and thief with fellow artist Shoichi working on his cactus in the background - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough
Finished painted cactus and thief with fellow artist Shoichi working on his cactus in the background - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough

Photo - Finished thief in a pot - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough
Finished thief in a pot - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough

Photo - The huge 3D tableau backdrop in the depot sheds - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough
The huge 3D tableau backdrop in the depot sheds - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough

Photo - Finished donkey strapped to a lorry ready for the promenade - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough
Finished donkey strapped to a lorry ready for the promenade - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough

Photo - Sarah Myerscough (me) on a visit during the erection of the tableau - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough
Sarah Myerscough (me) on a visit during the erection of the tableau - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough

Photo - The nearly complete tableau on the cliffs at Bispham - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough
The nearly complete tableau on the cliffs at Bispham - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough

Photo - Nice detail of the cactus, donkey and thief that I created - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough
Nice detail of the cactus, donkey and thief that I created - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough

Photo - The tableau lit up during the Illuminations - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough
The tableau lit up during the Illuminations - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough

Photo - Not quite forty thieves, but there\'s a good few! - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough
Not quite forty thieves, but there\'s a good few! - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough

Photo - Illuminated left end of the Ali Baba tableau - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough
Illuminated left end of the Ali Baba tableau - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough

Photo - Illuminated centre section of the Ali Baba tableau with open cave door showing treasure - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough
Illuminated centre section of the Ali Baba tableau with open cave door showing treasure - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough

Photo - Revisit during 2006 for photos reveals a slightly different layout - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough
Revisit during 2006 for photos reveals a slightly different layout - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough

Photo - Detail of thief on a different donkey during 2006 season - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough
Detail of thief on a different donkey during 2006 season - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough

Photo - Nice detail of various figures laid out slightly differently in 2006 - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough
Nice detail of various figures laid out slightly differently in 2006 - Ali Baba 2005 - Blackpool Illuminations Gallery - © Sarah Myerscough

What are Blackpool Illuminations?

Photo - Sarah Myerscough (me) with Dr Who Dalek maquette made for Blackpool IlluminationsIf you have landed on this page from Google or another search engine or from a link on a website, you might just be wondering what you are looking at.

Ali Baba 2005 is a feature within Blackpool Illuminations, the greatest free light show on earth, where Sarah Myerscough (me) works as an artist. The Illuminations are an annual event that takes place from late August / early September to November, along six miles of the promenade in Blackpool, a seaside resort in the North West of England.

Blackpool itself is the most visited seaside resort in Europe and provides family entertainment throughout the year. It has three piers, the 518ft Blackpool Tower featuring an excellent circus, miles of golden sands, a huge amusement park (Blackpool Pleasure Beach), a waxworks (Madame Tussaud's), a Sea Life Centre, a Ripley's Believe It Or Not, a zoo (Blackpool Zoo), two major theatres (Grand Theatre and The Opera House), dozens of amusement arcades (including Coral Island), a water park (Blackpool Sandcastle) and much, much more...

Where should you go next?

If you have landed on this page by chance and are wondering where to go next:

  • For more behind the scenes photographs of the Illuminations, select another page from the Blackpool Illuminations Gallery menu.
  • For information about my life as an artist, take a look at my Timeline pages.
  • If you are interested in purchasing artworks, take a look at my For Sale pages.
  • If you're not sure what you want, why not try my Lucky Dip?
  • Finally, if your appetite has been whet for a visit to Blackpool, take a look at my About Blackpool pages for links to Blackpool attractions, accommodation, events and more, but don't forget to bookmark me and come back some time!