Alexandra woman Rebecca Mackay is turning doll making into a fine art.

Rebecca started making dolls 20 years ago while living in Dunedin and has, just this month, featured them in an exhibition for the first time.

Her dolls, which are initially made from cloth, are given their own personality thanks to Rebecca’s ability to sculpt their heads, including ears and a nose, using paperclay.

She said being able to sculpt a nose and ears, not draw them on, was her ultimate aim, so persevered until she found a technique that worked.

Rebecca paints facial features, including eyes, mouth and freckles on to each one, before spraying them with a gloss to protect them.

In some cases, she also uses a crackle method, which adds a different dimension again, and then gives them a full head of locks, crafted from mohair, which Rebecca dyes.

The dolls each have their own personality.

Dyed mohair is used to give the dolls a full head of hair.

She then adds to their personality by creating clothes for each one.

“The fabrics are all sourced from secondhand shops," she said. 

“Usually they are actual clothes and I cut them up, the same with the knits.”

Rebecca said her inspiration comes from her love for illustrations in children’s books.

Paperclay covers the head so facial features can be sculpted and painted on. 

“I love being able to bring the characters in books to life, in cloth doll form.”

Rebecca has considered giving each of her dolls a name in the future, but for now she is happy as they are, adorning a wall at Hullabaloo in Cromwell as part of the gallery’s latest exhibition.

PHOTOS: The Central App