EMIGRE BENDS BANDS OF STEEL ENGLISH EX-COP MAKES ART FROM METAL IN NEW VALENCIA SHOP.

Byline: Amy Raisin Staff Writer

VALENCIA - Far from the dank coal mines of Northern England where he worked as a teen, retired police inspector Lawrence Baxter is still adjusting to the oppressive heat of his newly adopted city.

To hear his wife tell it, however, neither heat nor hunger distracts the 61-year-old Baxter from creating his one-of-a-kind works of art that would impress Superman himself. Wielding a heavy mallet, Baxter transforms rods of solid steel into renderings of American icons like Elvis, Marilyn and even mermaids.

``I was 15, working in the coal mines. My dad said I should get a job as an electrician. The employment officer said there were no vacancies, but there was a spot for a blacksmith,'' said Baxter, in a thick English accent. ``I took the job.''

In late June, Baxter and his wife, Josephine, moved from the tiny hamlet of Whitehaven, 40 miles from the Scottish border, to Valencia, where they frequently visited their son and his family for years.

The grandfather of five is still settling into his rented space in the Valencia Industrial Center, but judging from the physics-defying artwork hanging on his walls, he's had little trouble summoning the creativity he nurtured in his garage workshop overlooking the Irish Sea.

``I was doing the steel work in me spare time, but now that we're retired I've been working eight hours a day,'' he said. ``It takes a bit of doing. You see on the mermaid there, just the scales are probably 30 pieces.''

Since arriving this summer, Baxter has already completed five pieces - painstakingly molded and shaved pieces of steel arranged and framed on subtly painted backgrounds - and is on to the next creation.

Already on display in his workshop are impressive renderings of Marilyn Monroe from her famous ``Happy Birthday, Mr. President'' performance; an unmistakable Elvis Presley brought to life in steel; and a familiar image of Sammy Davis Jr., inspired by a drawing from the late, celebrated caricaturist Al Hirschfeld.

The likeness of the diminutive entertainer is dead on: After Baxter sent a photo of his piece to Hirschfeld's estate, he received a reply congratulating him on a ``wonderful tribute'' to the artist. When you exhibit this piece, the letter went on, please provide the proper credit line at the bottom.

His wife of 42 years said her husband's artistic talents were evident from the start. And through the decades, the retired business assistant said she has grown accustomed to the ``I'll be there in a minute'' responses when she calls him in.

``He can see something and then just sit down and draw it, like an architect would,'' said Josephine Baxter, 62. ``I have more control of him now that we're here, but we have this funny thing between us - back in England, I'd say, your dinner will be ready in 10 minutes. He'd come in two hours later.''

Now that he has a few pieces under his belt, Baxter plans to sell his work. Clearly adept at manipulating steel to create celebrity likenesses - he works ``cold,'' meaning he does not use heat to make the steel more malleable - Baxter also has experience with commissioned pieces.

The cost of a piece really depends on the individual creation, he said.

``Obviously, because of the time that goes into it, they're going to be for a selected market,'' he said. ``But I don't believe in turning anything out that I wouldn't have in my own home. I take this very seriously.''

For information about Baxter's art, call [phone].

Amy Raisin, [phone]

amy.raisin(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Lawrence Baxter shows off some of his art made from steel. The retired English cop, who had blacksmith training, moved here in June.

(2 -- color) Steel worker Lawrence Baxter places pieces of steel into an arrangement he sketched first in chalk.

David Crane/Staff Photographer