Our vision has always been 'To capture the spirit of positive endeavour, believing that our work will uplift and brighten our customers' lives.'
Neil Ballantyne was commissioned into the King's Own Scottish Borderers in April 1981. In September 1984 he joined 5 Airborne Brigade, and in 1985 transferred to The Parachute Regiment (3 PARA).
Michelle Ballantyne trained as a nurse in London, working in intensive care before joining the NHS Graduate Management Training Programme subsequently working in both operational and strategic management both in the South East of England and Scotland.
When Neil left the Army in 1990, he took on the role of fundraising for 'Para 90', marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the British Airborne Forces. He hoped to create something timeless that could be used to commemorate occasions such as this. From this idea, the sculpture 'The Drop Order Para' was created.
At the end of 1990, Neil and Michelle made the decision to relocate their family to the Scottish Borders.
In January 1991, they founded Ballantynes of Walkerburn Ltd.
Neil started the business in the first unit of our factory building, covering all areas of production himself. Michelle continued working in the NHS before leaving to head up Drug and Alcohol Services for young people and offenders in the Scottish Borders, whilst also supporting Neil by providing the financial and legal administration functions of the company.
Over the years the company grew, eventually expanding to fill the rest of the factory where we continue to operate today.
Neil and Michelle are proud parents to six children, four of whom now work within the company. James, the eldest son, is responsible for our IT, website and graphic work. Stuart, the youngest son, manages the Factory and Despatch. Isobel (Izzy), the youngest daughter, looks after the company's photography and creative work, while supporting Neil on the sales side of the business.
Their third eldest son, Alex, runs Ballantynes Tree Services, which operates as a division of Ballantynes of Walkerburn across the Scottish Borders and the Lothians.
Continuing the tradition of service, James and Alex both served in the Army, being operationally deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan respectively. The pictures above are them on tour.
Alongside the family, we have a dedicated team of employees, some of whom have been with us for over twenty years.
It is their pursuit of excellence that sets the standard.
Today, we're proud to be recognised as the UK's leading figurine manufacturer. Our sculptures are presented to elite military and emergency service personnel worldwide, and we work closely with a growing number of corporate and institutional clients.
In 2003 Ballantynes stepped into the world of engraved crystal, followed shortly in 2008 with the creation of the 'Special Bottle Service'.
As we grow, we continue to embrace new technologies, including powering our production with renewable solar energy. But while much has evolved, our purpose remains the same:
To create meaningful, lasting pieces that reflect pride, identity, and achievement.
Ballantynes remains a family business. We are committed to creating products that commemorate a lifetime of service, celebrate achievement, and recognise the dedication behind every role.
Every piece is carefully handcrafted. No two items are exactly alike.
When you choose Ballantynes, you're choosing a small, specialised team that takes pride in its work - whether it's a statue, a bottle, or a piece of engraved crystal.
It's a range that is second to none
When Henry Ballantyne founded Walkerburn in the 19th century, it was to support the workers of his tweed mill. Today, we carry forward that heritage of valuing the people who make our work possible.
The Ballantynes team is made up of around 15 people, including several who have been with us for over 20 years. They bring creativity, skill, and care to every item that leaves our factory - and we believe their hard work shows in every detail.
We work with clients across the globe - from the British military and emergency services to international corporations and private individuals. They choose us for the quality that speaks for itself in every figurine, bottle, and glass that leaves our factory - but it doesn't stop there.
As a family-owned and fully independent business, we protect our values at every stage of production. You're not just working with a supplier - you're working with a manufacturer that stands behind every piece we make.
Our close-knit team includes four senior craftsmen who have worked with us for more than two decades, giving us the wealth of experience it takes to create detailed and accurate sculptures and engravings.
Every decision we make is first driven by our duty to deliver the finest quality items to our customers. Then, we prioritise our team, paying above the living wage and providing secure employment.
We protect our reputation for incredible quality by keeping all our statue production in-house, all the time. When you buy from us, you can be confident your item has come directly from our factory on the banks of the River Tweed.
It's not just our figurines. We source all of our bases, trays and packaging materials from UK-based suppliers, significantly reducing our carbon footprint and feeding back into our economy.
Beyond our ongoing reductions in waste materials, we refit our factory in 2015 to be more energy efficient. Our 30kW solar array provides more carbon free electricity than we use, protecting the serene environment around us without compromising on production.
Uniquely, our approach blends the traditional techniques and skills of craftspeople with modern technology including precision design using the latest CAD technology.
Every case is unique and made to fit it's statue. The inner rubber mold has to regularly be repoured from the master to maintain the detail in each casting.
Using our secret recipe which we've perfected over the years, the bronze resin is mixed, poured into the mold and cured.
Once the resin is set the statue is carefully removed from the mold. Next the base is sanded smooth and it moves to Fettling and Assembly.
In fettling the seam lines are removed and any imperfections in the casting repaired. The statues are also assembled, some are cast in multiple parts and finer details like rifles are made in pewter since resin would break to easily.
Once the statue is assembled it moves on for touching up. Here a special bronze resin is used blend the statue and pewter parts into a seamless piece.
In a final finish the statues recieves a coat of lacquer which seals the bronze and gives it extra lustre.
In final assembly of the statue the brass plate is engraved with the wording and mounted on the wooden base. A cap badge can also be added to the statue.
Each statue is packed in special expanding foam to offer maximum protection wherever in the world it is going.
