Welcome to Tonys Ice Art in Cairns, Queensland.

Tony, who started his career as a chef, decided to become an Ice Sculptor after a stint as a chef in the Australian Defence Force.

"In 1992 I went to Somalia with the army, came back to Australia and went on a boat cruise, I was impressed by an ice carving and thought 'I can do that' I did an ice carving course... and since then I've been self-taught," Tony says.

And now Tony is an award winning specialist who also teaches!

"I now specialise in being a speed-carver. We use chainsaws, die grinders, angle grinders, electric drills and anything that is low-impact that can actually carve, very similar to what you would carve using wood, however we are using them with ice."

Ice Sculptures are beautiful to look at, but their beauty can be short-lived.

"In the open air... an ice carving will probably last two or three hours, before I'll have to pull it down for safety reasons. If it is inside... at a nice 22 or 23 degrees an ice sculpture will last six or seven hours."

The fact that Tony's Sculptures will inevitably melt should not be a cause for concern as Tony's defrosting sculptures look even more beautiful melting, than when they are freshly cut.

"The longer it takes to melt, the better it looks... it always improves with a bit of age."

Tony is able to produce stunning ice sculptures prior to an event or can be a part of the evenings entertainment, by producing an ice carving in front of guests.

Visit Tony's Photo Galleries to view some of Tonys Ice Carvings, here in Australia and at Ice Carving Tournaments around the world.