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About the Artist

Andy Leaning — Miniature Artist & Modelmaker

I'm Andy Leaning, and from my Surrey studio I make miniature scenes that capture quiet moments — tiny worlds frozen in time.

Andy Leaning at the workbench in his Surrey studio

The Little World Workshop workbench, Surrey

Quiet details designed to make you smile

My pieces aren't mass-produced, uniform, formulaic models; instead, they are hand-crafted natural and organic vignettes and dioramas, with quiet details designed to make you smile.

Based in my Surrey studio, I create semi-bespoke scenes for hobbyists and collectors who enjoy atmospheric realism, character, and stories told through small, intricate touches that invite a closer look — the grain in weathered wood, aged metal rusting from exposure to the elements, or the roots of trees pushing into the shallow waters of a pond.

Rather than simply filling space, every piece is created with a focus on balanced composition — arranging each scene so that rewarding details reveal themselves slowly to the viewer. I'm drawn to hidden, overlooked moments: where a story feels as though it has just paused, or is about to begin.

Working in miniature lets me explore those quiet edges — the spaces between events, rather than the events themselves.

Explore the Gallery
20+
Years of hands-on model making experience
40k+
Followers across social media channels
500k
Annual visitors at peak on Model Railway Engineer
5.0★
Across all customer reviews on eBay, Etsy and Google

I love the idea that a finished model can encourage someone to pause. Each scene is an attempt to capture a pocket of tranquillity — a small smile that is what I aim for in every build.

Experience & Recognition

A craft built over decades

My journey began with a simple wooden train my father made and the sight of real engines gliding past our garden in Wimbledon. That early fascination grew into decades of practice — building intricate railway scenes in OO, 009, and N gauge.

Over time, my work has expanded beyond the railway to include dioramas for wargamers, collectors, and anyone drawn to the magic of a small-scale world.

  • — Featured in British Railway Modeller magazine
  • — Commissioned for marketing by a wargaming company
  • — Regular exhibitor at craft fairs and model railway shows
  • — Founder of Model Railway Engineer, 500,000+ visitors/year at peak
  • — Member, International Guild of Miniature Artisans
The Little World Workshop workbench in Surrey
01
Made for You

Workshop Originals

Each piece in the Workshop Originals Series begins as an original concept — a scene or detail designed to bring character to model railways, wargaming tables, and personal collections. These works are made for you rather than mass-produced.

While the overall design remains consistent, every piece is built by hand, with natural variation in texture, finish, and detail. From £15, to larger dioramas, each model carries the same focus on atmosphere, balance, and quiet storytelling.

Lead times are 7 to 12 days.

Browse Workshop Originals
Lineside hut model railway scene
Little World Pieces — hobbit hole miniature diorama in a handcrafted wooden bowl
02
One-off Pieces

Little World Pieces

Little World Pieces are one-off creations, each beginning with a concept before finding the right base or display to give it character and presence. The scene is then built to suit it — a small, self-contained world for display, gifting, or keeping.

Each piece is entirely unique and never repeated. Released from time to time as the right idea and the right setting align, they tend to go quickly. Join the newsletter to hear about new pieces first.

Each piece is priced individually. Join the newsletter for early access.

Browse Little World Pieces
03
One of a Kind

Bespoke Commissions

For collectors, enthusiasts, or museums seeking a truly unique item, I offer a limited number of Bespoke Studio Commissions. This is where we collaborate to bring a specific story from your imagination into the physical world.

Whether it is a hauntingly realistic historical ruin, a complex fantasy battlefield, or a miniature recreation of a cherished memory — I use a mix of traditional hand-carving and modern precision tools to ensure every stone, rusted beam, and creeping weed serves the story you want to tell.

Bespoke commissions begin at £200. I take on a select number each month.

Discuss a Commission
Bespoke commission example — Workmen and the Fox
★★★★★
Beautifully made item which exceeds expectations. An absolute exquisite piece — the quality is second to none.

Etsy customer, Olivia

Work with Me

Commission your little world

Because all items are hand-built from the ground up and finished individually, your model will never be a 'catalogue' item, but a unique work of art that brings a personal, lifelike soul to your layout or display.

Use the enquiry form to tell me about your vision, scale, and specific requirements. Commissions begin at £50 and are priced individually to reflect the hours of dedicated craftsmanship involved.

Start Your Commission
01
Consultation
We discuss your vision, scale, and specific "mood" requirements. No obligation — just a conversation about what you'd like to bring to life.
02
The Build
I provide regular photo updates from the workbench, allowing you to see your little world evolve from a raw base to a finished masterpiece.
03
Delivery
Your finished piece is carefully packaged and shipped from my Surrey studio. Pieces can also be collected in person.