Jim ''The Balloon Guy'' Sheard, of Queenstown, ties off a balloon in The Mall yesterday at 12.23pm. Photo by Tracey Roxburgh.
Mr Sheard said he only began his part-time business in time for this year's Queenstown Winter Festival to keep himself occupied around shift-work.
''I just realised I could do them [balloon animals]. I fixed a couple of things for someone one day and then I just started doing them.
''Now I'm trying to get better and do more of them ... I'm starting to study now ... to get into some of the bigger stuff, more complex pieces, but it's a slow thing to learn.''
Mr Sheard said he would work for a couple of hours yesterday, popping up ''when there's people around'.
