Visit us Things to do Peterborough Sculpture Collection Peterborough Sculpture Collection is an exciting and significant collection of artworks which are on permanent public display across the City. The collection is free to view and includes important artworks by artists including Antony Gormley, Anthony Caro and Sokari Douglas Camp. Whether you choose to take a tour around the Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail, encounter a bird sculpture or carved benches at Ferry Meadows, or glimpse Antony Gormley’s figures watching over Cathedral Square, we hope you discover an artwork that you enjoy or that intrigues you to find out more. Details of all the sculptures in the collection can be found below, listed by location. Visit Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail Why not start your sculpture discovery at Thorpe Meadows by following our sculpture trail that includes 13 permanent artworks. The central rowing lake provides a unique backdrop for this outdoor gallery. Download the Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail Guide in English , Polish , Punjabi , Lithuanian , Urdu Download the Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail Interactive PDF Guide HERE - perfect for using on your phone. Download the Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail Family Activity Sheet HERE Download the Thorpe Meadows map HERE You can find out more information about Thorpe Meadows and how to get there HERE Travel information can be found HERE Watch this video tour of the Sculpture Trail: Visit Ferry Meadows We have 5 artworks on display at Ferry Meadows. You can find out more information about Ferry Meadows Country Park HERE Travel information can be found HERE Sculptures at Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail Outside In by John Foster Artwork: Outside In Artist: John Foster Location: Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail About the artwork: Outside In was the first sculpture purchased for Peterborough by the Development Corporation in 1978. Created from oiled steel the piece was located at the Herlington Centre, Orton Malbourne and is now located in Nene Park as part of the Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail. John Foster’s sculptures are mostly created from steel, and Outside In uses this material to explore space, volume, weight and density. The sculptures solid form appears to be folded and interlocked, as though made of a more supple material that could be readily folded ‘inside out’. When was the artwork created: 1978 What is the artwork made from: Galvanised steel, painted black About the Artist: 1951-2009. After leaving school John Foster worked for a year in a steel company, learning about steel engineering and fabrication, before deciding to study as a sculptor at art colleges in Guildford and then Epsom. After working in London, in 1975 he bought Gresham Farm, near Hardingham in rural Norfolk, and began converting it into studio and living spaces. Steel was John Foster’s material of choice until the last few years of his life, abandoned only because of ill-health; it was a way of realising his ideas and a place from which they grew. People by Tolleck Winner Artwork: People Artist: Tolleck Winner Location: Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail About the artwork: Tolleck Winner’s sculpture was inspired by the reflection in a river of two people walking together and can be discovered by the lapping water of the Thorpe Meadows Rowing Lake, close to the River Nene. The sculpture reflects the movement around it - with walkers enjoying gentle strolls as well busy commuters moving through the space. The artist enjoys using raw materials to create his work, and created from steel, 'People' is designed to change as the elements effect it, oxidising and changing colour. When was the artwork created: 2006 What is the artwork made from: Oxidised steel About the Artist: Born 1959, Soviet Union. Tolleck Winner is a UK-based sculptor. Born in the former Soviet Union, he has lived and worked in the United Kingdom since 1980. A self-taught artists he has had numerous solo exhibitions and participated in many group shows, in particular London’s Mayfair. He currently works in his Essex-based studio. Cormorant by Elizabeth Cooke Artist: Elizabeth Cooke Artwork: Cormorant Location: Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail About the artwork: Elizabeth Cooke’s Cormorant sculpture occupies a fitting location within the Sculpture Trail at Thorpe Meadows. Cormorants are large water birds that can often be seen perching within the trees around the Park or scouting for fish along the river or lakes. The artist has created the delicate shape and movement of the bird using found metal objects and recycled materials. The sculpture appears to have paused, proudly holding its catch with its wings stretched wide. When was the artwork created: 2000 What is it made from: Mild steel, made from a combination of found and hand finished materials. About the Artist: Elizabeth Cooke is a sculptor based in Bury St Edmunds. Mainly working in metal she takes inspiration for her work from the natural world. She originally trained as a dancer, and draws her dance training into her work exploring movement and flow within her metal sculptures. Creature by Anne Nicholson Artwork: Creature Artist: Anne Nicholson Location: Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail When was the artwork created: 1998 (1978) What is the artwork made from: Clipsham stone About the artwork: This abstract sculpture is carved from once large piece of Clipsham stone. The artist has used a mixture of hand carving and mechanical sawing to achieve this sculptural form. Viewed from different angles the sculptures suggests different shapes and forms. About the Artist: Born in 1956, Nicholson studied at Camberwell School of Art and the Slade in London, and has worked on her pieces at Carrara and the Purbeck Quarries in Dorset. Festival Boat by Sokari Douglas Camp Artist: Sokari Douglas Camp Artwork: Festival Boat Location: Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail About the artwork: Festival Boat was commissioned from the artist as part of the final ‘Festival of Sculpture’ in 1989 which marked the end of the Development Corporation in Peterborough. This large scale artwork rests on the bank of the River Nene in Thorpe Meadows and takes as its inspiration from its location and the festival boats used ceremonially in the artist's native Nigeria. When was the artwork created: 1988 What is the artwork made from: Concrete About the Artist: Born Buguma, Nigeria, 1958. Sokari Douglas Camp studied Fine Art at the Central School of Art and Design and the Royal College of Art, London. The Artist’s work varies in scale and materials and is inspired by movement, clothing, Kalabari culture, theatre and the environment. Sokari has represented Britain and Nigeria in National exhibitions and has had more than 40 solo shows worldwide in venues such as National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institute 1988-89, the Museum of Mankind, London 1994/5. Her public artworks include Battle Bus: Living Memorial for Ken Saro‐Wiwa (2006), a full-scale replica of a Nigerian steel bus, which stands as a monument to the late Niger Delta activist and writer. Odd Oaks by Nicholas Pope Artist: Nicholas Pope Artwork: Odd Oaks Location: Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail About the artwork: The four large wooden elements resemble giant acorns that reflect the nature and materials of their surroundings. Originally located in Werrington Shopping Centre, Odd Oaks is located at Thorpe Meadows. The sculpture was decommissioned from the collection in 2011 but left in situ in Thorpe Meadows to allow nature to take its course. When was the artwork created: 1982 What is the artwork made from: English Oak About the Artist: Born 1949, Sydney, Australia. British artist Nicholas Pope is for creating large-scale sculptures made of wood, metal, stone, sheet lead or chalk in the 70’s and 80’s. Following his 1980 exhibition representing Britain at the Venice Biennale, Pope was awarded a Cultural Visitor grant to Zimbabwe and Tanzania; an experience that changed his artistic practice completely. Using materials such as glass, porcelain, moulded aluminium and ceramics, Pope began to make abstract works that reference complex themes of life and death, morality, belief, and ritual. Under the Ocean, Under the Sea by Christine Angus Artist: Christine Angus Artwork: Under the Ocean, Under the Sea Location: Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail About the artwork: Under the Ocean, Under the Sea is formed of three abstract sculptures hand-carved from limestone. The stones resemble archaeological remains, perhaps from a drowned civilisation. The sculpture resonates with the rich history of the city including the traces of Iron Age and Roman settlements nearby. The sculptures also create a connection to the nearby River Nene and importance of the River and the area to communities through time for food, ritual, and transport, and which today provides an area for recreation and leisure but is also an important floodplain, protecting the city from flooding. When was the artwork created: 1983 What is the artwork made from: Portland Stone About the Artist: Born 1953, Grimsby. Christine is a sculptor, working mainly with stone. She studied sculpture at Brighton Polytechnic and has exhibited in various group exhibitions including the Serpentine Gallery summer show in 1982 and Basingstoke Arts Festival. Her sculpture Ophidia is part of the Arts Council Collection. Untitled, 1990 by Miles Davies Artist: Miles Davies Artwork: Untitled 1990 Location: Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail About the artwork: Miles Davies’ sculpture, Untitled 1990 sits within the landscape at Thorpe Meadows. A series of hinged sections act like doorways from one view to another. To create the steel sculpture Miles Davies utilised a technique of cutting the plate steel with lasers in a water tank, this allowed the artist to create the intricate shapes of the sculpture. A second sculpture by Miles Davies, Untiled 1989, can be viewed along the path on the other side of the rowing lake. When was the artwork created: 1990 What is the artwork made from: Steel About the Artist: Born Leigh, Lancashire, 1959. Miles Davies studied at Brighton Polytechnic 1978-81 and then at Manchester Metropolitan University with a Henry Moore Fellowship 1992-93. The artist has exhibited widely across Europe and has works in a number of sculpture parks in the UK. Helios XVI by Barry Mason Artist: Barry Mason Artwork: Helios XVI Location: Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail About the artwork: Barry Mason’s Helios sculpture responds to the movement of the sun and marks the passage of time, with the carved sphere at the top of Helios I perhaps representing a globe. Lined up with the meridian, the sculpture was created to celebrate the summer solstice, and only at this time is the face of the sculpture fully illuminated by the sun, creating a sculptural calendar. The artist has a specific interest in sun paths and shadows and this interest led him to create a series of Helios sculptures that include this sculpture and another located at Milhamford College, Oxford. When was the artwork created: 1987 What is the artwork made from: Westwood stone (from Bath) About the Artist: Born 1952. Barry Mason studied fine art at the University of Reading (1970-74), the Slade School of Fine Art, University of London (1974-76) and Bath Technical College (1980-81), where he gained the City and Guilds advanced craft award in stone-masonry. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of British Sculptors in 1998 and lives and works in Stroud, Gloucester. Little Prince by Jane Ackroyd Artist: Jane Ackroyd Artwork: Little Prince Location: Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail About the artwork: Little Prince represents the children's story of the same name by Antoine de Saint Exupery. The story follows a young prince who visits various planets in space, including Earth, and refers to themes of loneliness, friendship, love, and loss. First published in 1943, the book also explores our relationship to nature and our planet. Jane Ackroyd’s artworks are mostly abstract, with the forms connecting to the landscape around them. In this work the artist has created natural forms with steel, incorporating elements from the story including a tree, an asteroid and a pyramid. When was the artwork created: 1985 What is the artwork made from: Mild Steel About the Artist: Born 1957, London. Sculptor, Jane Ackroyd works in metal, exploring shapes, light and textures. Through her sculpture she explores her connections with others and the world around her. Often working in steel she enjoys the feeling of drama and beauty working in metal can create and is influenced by her childhood memories of watching blacksmiths at work. Jane Ackroyd studied at St. Martin’s College and subsequently the Royal College of Art and has numerous awards and successful public and private commissions. Quarry by Simon Perry Artist: Simon Perry Artwork: Quarry Location: Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail About the artwork: Quarry depicts a wolf like creature emerging out of the stone block from which it is carved. The material and figure relate to the heritage of the landscape with wolves populating the British landscape until the 15th century. The use of limestone reflects the history of the space as a quarry to providing building materials for the city’s network of roads and towns. The wolf now protects Thorpe Meadows, a space that was created for the residents of Peterborough to enjoy. When was the artwork created: 1987 What is the artwork made from: Limestone About the Artist: Simon Perry is a British sculptor and academic, based in Melbourne, Australia. Simon Perry studied sculpture at Chelsea School of Art and the Royal Academy, London. The main focus of his practice is the research, design and production of large-scale public artworks. Best known for his large-scale public art works for urban spaces in Australia and overseas, Perry’s practice incorporates numerous sculptural techniques including casting, carving and fabrication and he uses bronze, concrete, granite, steel, aluminium, wood and stone. His commissioned pieces are predominantly site-specific, and often address elements of environment and public space with a gentle humour. Peterborough Arch by Lee Grandjean Artist: Lee Grandjean Artwork: Peterborough Arch Location: Removed for conservation work Peterborough Arch sculpture located in Thorpe Meadows has been temporarily removed to allow conservators to inspect the sculpture. Unfortunately, after 34 years exposure to the elements, the sculpture is in need of urgent attention. Once the extent of the works is known, we will be fundraising to ensure this well-known sculpture is not lost from the City and the Collection. About the artwork: Peterborough Arch stands proudly alongside the Parkway road in Thorpe Meadows, and was created specifically for this location. Made out of Oroko wood, the sculpture aligns with, and appears to be striding towards, the front of Peterborough Cathedral in the city centre. Lee Grandjean is interested in how our bodies inhabit the world and move through the landscape and how our bodies move in different situations and environments. By creating a simplified human form he examines how we survive and how we feel in our bodies rather than how they look. Lee Grandjean also created an alter piece in St Mary’s Church, on New Road in Peterborough City Centre. When was the artwork created: 1987 What is the artwork made from: Iroko wood About the Artist: Born 1949, London. Lee Grandjean grew up in Harlow, Essex and studied at the North East Polytechnic and Winchester School of Art. He was Deputy Head of Sculpture at the Royal College of Art, London and has exhibited nationally and internationally. He currently lives and works in Norfolk. Untitled 1989 by Miles Davies Artist: Miles Davies Artwork: Untitled 1989 Location: Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail About the artwork: Untitled 1989 is sited on the north path around Thorpe Meadows. Structured like a series of interlocking ‘doors’ it provides a punctuation between the busy Longthorpe Parkway dual carriageway and the tranquil setting of the Park and views towards the city centre and echoes the shape of the rowing lake beyond. The sculpture is made from steel that changes colour - oxidises in the air and mirroring the changing colours of nature, particularly during autumn. A second sculpture by Miles Davies, Untiled 1990, can be viewed along the path on the other side of the rowing lake. When was the artwork created: 1989 What is the artwork made from: Steel About the Artist: Born Leigh, Lancashire, 1959. Miles Davies studied at Brighton Polytechnic 1978-81 and then at Manchester Metropolitan University with a Henry Moore Fellowship 1992-93. The artist has exhibited widely across Europe and has works in a number of sculpture parks in the UK. Sculptures at Ferry Meadows Lynch Wood Seat By Lee Mawby Artist: Lee Mawby Artwork: Lynch Wood Seat Location: Lynch Wood, PE2 6FY, Nene Park About the artwork: Lynch Wood Seats were commissioned by Peterborough Environmental City Trust (PECT) and were made by students from Thomas Deacon Academy during the summer of 2000 under the supervision of technology teacher, Lee Mawby. The 3 identical seats appear grand and throne-like as though representing an ancient woodland ceremony, with the oak reflecting the beautiful trees that surround them. When was the artwork created: 1999 What is the artwork made from: Air dried oak and lignum vitae About the Artist: Lee Mawby is College Leader at Thomas Deacon Academy Technology College, Peterborough. Pyramid by John Maine Artist: John Maine Artwork: Pyramid Location: Ferry Meadows, north side of Gunwade Lake About the artwork: John Maine’s large work 'Pyramid' stands to the north of Gunwade Lake at Ferry Meadows Country Park. John Maine has travelled widely and these journeys, especially to Mexico, greatly influence his work exploring themes of landscape, land forms, ancient sites, mathematical systems and surface planes. Pyramid creates a powerful marker in the landscape and reflects the heritage of the Park as a quarry – providing the building materials for the modern city, and represents the hard work and labour that contributed to the rapid growth of the city. The stone sculpture is hand finished using a hammer and chisel, creating a textured surface – the marks also represent the labour and signatures of the different stone masons involved in the creation of the sculpture. When was the artwork created: 1977-79 What is the artwork made from: Portland Stone About the Artist: Born 1942, Bristol. John Maine studied at the West of England College of Art from 1960 to 1964 before moving to London to attend the Royal College of Art. He has many prominent public art works across the UK including a circular stone work outside the National Theatre on London’s South Bank and is a member of the Royal Academy, London and has received many awards. He lives and works in Dorset, UK. Bird in Flight by Bob Dawson Artist: Bob Dawson Artwork: Bird in Flight Location: Overton Lake, Ferry Meadows Country Park About the artwork: The Bird in Flight sculpture appears to soar across the sky next to Overton Lake at Ferry Meadows County Park. This dynamic sculpture reflects the diversity of birdlife that visits both the Park and the fens that surround Peterborough. Bob Dawson’s work links to his memories of his childhood growing up in Wales and his relationship to nature and the cycle of birth, decline, death and rebirth. Through the Bird in Flight sculpture the artist aims to reflect not only the beauty in natural life, but the force and urgency of life itself and our courage to go on despite hardships. Originally titled Shearwater, the sculpture is made from sheet metal and was originally commissioned by Peterborough Environment City Trust as part of the Green Wheel network of cycle routes a continuous network of cycleways, footpaths and bridleways around the city. When was the artwork created: 2000 What is the artwork made from: Stainless steel About the Artist: Born Holywell, Wales. 1921-2012. Bob Dawson was born in Wales and after military service in the Second World War studied drawing, painting and sculpture at Camberwell Art School, Kennington City and Guilds School of Art and the Royal Academy, Copenhagen. He was a celebrated British sculptor and also taught drawing and written several books and articles on sculpture. Bob Dawson exhibited at a number of galleries including the Royal Academy and has had several one person exhibitions since living in Northamptonshire, including the Alfred East Gallery, Kettering and the Museum and Art Gallery, Northampton. The Sentinel by Jason Thomson Artwork: The Sentinel Artist: Jason Thomson Location: Ham Lane, Ferry Meadows Country Park About the artwork: The Sentinel was created from a standing dead tree that was sadly killed by Dutch Elm disease. Nene Park Trust commissioned artist Jason Thomson to design and create the sculpture in 2003 that stands proudly beside the road entrance to Ferry Meadows County Park . Thomson's unique design reflects the heritage of the site and the thousands of years of human influence on the land that is now Nene Park and includes a Roman soldier, machinery used to extract gravel from the lakes in the 1970s, as well as some of the wildlife found in the Park. When was the artwork created: 2003 What is the artwork made from: Wood, Elm About the Artist: Jason Thomson is a skilful artist with 25 years’ experience of creating carved sculptures and public art around the UK. He has created large outdoor sculptures, skilfully using saws, axes, adzes, gouges, rasps and knives to create expressive carved artworks in relief and 3D. The Sheepwash by Jason Thomson Artwork: The Sentinel Artist: Jason Thomson Location: Between Milton Ferry Bridge & Bluebell Wood, Ferry Meadows About the artwork: Many visitors might overlook this site in Bluebell Wood but Jason Thompson’s beautiful wooden sculpture of a shepherd and his sheep, carved in 1999, represent the heritage of this beautiful location in Ferry Meadows Country Park. The pool of water next to the River Nene used to be used for the practice of sheepwashing, an important part of the local agricultural calendar from the 15th to mid-19th century. Many hundreds of sheep, owned by the nearby Milton Estate, were grazed in the nearby flood meadows. Each year estate workers would have herded the sheep over Milton Ferry Bridge and individually washed them in the purpose dug sheepwash. By the early 20th century most sheep washes in the country had fallen into disuse and by the 1950s the practice had disappeared in all parts of the country. When was the artwork created: 1999 What is the artwork made from: Carved Wood Visions of Nature by Jeni Cairns Artist: Jeni Cairns Artwork: Visions of Nature Location: Ferry Meadows Country Park About the artwork: This intricate sculpture provides a wayfinding point along the footpath between Orton Mere and Overton Station on Ham Lane or North towards Goldie Meadows and Ham Mere. The sculpture was made specifically for this location and the design responds to the rich habitats of the nearby meadows and meres with an intricate design featuring herons, dragon flies and foxgloves. When was the artwork created: 2017 What is the artwork made from: Laser cut steel About the Artist: Jeni Cairns is an award winning artist and garden designer living in rural Cambridgeshire. She creates works in a variety of materials including metal work, painting, collage, sculpture, drawing, garden design and planting. Jeni studied Fine Art at Derby University. Her work combines her love of nature, metal work and sculpture. She has exhibited at National Trust’s Beningbrough Hall and Cotswold Sculpture Park and has won awards for her show gardens including best summer garden at RHS Hampton Court 2014 and gold and ‘Best in Show’ in the RHS Hampton Court 2016. Sculptures across the City Body, Mind, Spirit by Stephen Broadbent Artist: Stephen Broadbent Artwork: Body, Mind, Spirit Location: Peterborough City Hospital (outside the main entrance), Edith Cavell Campus, Bretton Gate, PE3 9GZ About the artwork: Body, Mind, Spirit is located outside the entrance to Peterborough City Hospital. The dynamic shape of the sculpture provides a direction for visitors, but also creates an important social space for patients, visitors and staff to pause. The towering ‘stems’ of the sculpture reach 16m from ground level, and at the base, a shape similar to a plough blade appears to break up the ground, as if preparing the ground for seeds to be sown. The plough shape is also represents an open book and the sharing of knowledge. The themes represent the care given within the hospital to others, allowing people to grow, and the importance to feed not just the body, but also the mind and spirit of others. When was the artwork created: 2002 What is the artwork made from: Corten steel, steel, glass About the Artist: Born Wroughton, Wiltshire, 1961. Stephen Broadbent is a British sculptor, specialising in public art. He studied at Liverpool Bluecoat School and with sculptor Anthony Dooley, then set up his own sculpture studio in Liverpool. Stephen Broadbent’s public artworks are designed in response to their unique locations creating a sense of place, providing boundaries, and identity and distinctiveness. He often creates his sculptures through community collaboration, telling the stories of a place. Stephen Broadbent has created numerous commissions and public art projects including works located in Glasgow, Liverpool and Belfast and has recently created a new memorial artwork commemorating the Bradford Pit mining community in East Manchester. He has also worked with Peterborough City Council to explore the hidden history of Lower Bridge Street, Peterborough, creating the bronze and stone sculpture The Voice of the City, and carved timber totems Riverside Totems and a crafted timber Riverside Plante Lagoon by Sir Anthony Caro Artist: Anthony Caro Artwork: Lagoon Location: Key Theatre (forecourt), Embankment Road, Peterborough PE1 1EF About the artwork: Lagoon is made from mild steel and stands just over two metres high outside the Key Theatre in the city centre. The sculpture is constructed with large-scale interlocked industrial forms - bolted and welded together to create different shapes and shadows in space. His sculptures often sit directly on the ground, rather than on a plinth, inviting the viewer to approach and interact with the sculpture from all sides. Mounted onto the pavement, Lagoon invites you to look under, through and around it, exploring the different angles and viewpoints. Anthony Caro made a number of works using rusting steel, a material that continues to change over time as the weather affects the sculpture’s surface. When was the artwork created: 1976/7 What is the artwork made from: Mild Steel About the Artist: 1924-2013, born New Malden, England. Sir Anthony Caro was an English abstract artist, internationally recognised as a major figure in contemporary sculpture. He trained as an engineer and in his early career he worked with sculptor Henry Moore. His later work is mostly abstract and made from ‘found’ metal industrial objects, often welding and bolting together pieces of steel. He is best known for his large, often brightly coloured abstract sculptures and his work is in collections all over the world including Tate Britain, London. Power Rhythm by Robert Erskine Artist: Robert Erskine Artwork: Power Rhythm Location: Green wheel cycle route, Nr Eye Roundabout, Parnwell Way, Peterborough About the artwork: Erskine was successful in winning a national competition to create a landmark sculpture for the City of Peterborough. The resulting sculpture, Power Rhythm, was created to celebrate the new millennium, the opening of the Sustrans cycle network, and the contribution made by Perkins Caterpillar engines to the local community. Perkins Engines have been an important manufacturer and employer in the city since 1932. The heritage of engineering in the City linked with Robert Erskine’s background in and passion for design, engineering, industry and nature, inspired this monumental sculpture. The Peterborough Millennium Green Wheel is a continuous network of cycleways, footpaths and bridleways around the city. As part of the project, a number of sculptures were commissioned, including this work. When was the artwork created: 2000 What is the artwork made from: Stainless Steel About the Artist: Robert Erskine is an English sculptor, designer and broadcaster. He currently lives and works in Suffolk and is a fellow of the Royal British Society of Sculptors. The artist fabricates and casts his own work and describes this as essential to developing his ideas. He has created numerous public sculptures and his work is held in public and private collections worldwide. Places to Be by Antony Gormley Artist: Antony Gormley Artwork: Places to Be Location: on the rooftops of Queensgate, Yorkshire Building Society & Leeds Building Society, Cathedral Square, Peterborough About the artwork: Place to Be, consists of three life-size standing figures located on three different buildings around Cathedral Square in the city centre. As with many of Antony Gormley’s artworks, the sculptures are made from casts of his own body. One figure is shielding their eyes from the sun – as though watching over us and taking in the view of the city, one figure has their arms by their sides, and one figure has their arms outstretched – embracing the sky and their surroundings. Surrounding the sculptures there are a huge variety of buildings that reflect different periods of history and architecture, these include a Victorian corner tower, 18th century rooflines and the modern shapes of Queensgate shopping centre. These buildings reflect different periods of Peterborough’s history and architecture, and have existed for various changing purposes. Places to Be celebrates the diversity, history and architecture of the City, the changes that have taken place, and the passing of time, and they also highlight the textures, materials, and the scale of the world built around us by encouraging passers-by to look-up and appreciate a view of Peterborough and explore our relationship to the world around us. When was the artwork created: 1985 What is the artwork made from: Sheet lead on fibreglass About the Artist: Born in London in 1950. Sir Antony Gormley is one of the best known and most popular British artists working today. Through sculpture, installation and public artworks his work explores human relationship to nature and the cosmos. He has shown extensively throughout the world, including major exhibitions at the Royal Academy, London, Philadelphia Museum of Art, the National Portrait Gallery, Created in 1984, Places to Be was one of his first public commissions, but the artist is probably best known for his sculpture the ‘Angel of the North’ a public sculpture in Gateshead, North-East England. Aspire by Renn & Thacker Artists: Renn & Thacker Artwork: Aspire Location: A605 roundabout outside Ikea Distribution Warehouse, Stanground, PE2 9ET About the artwork: Artists Renn and Thacker visited Peterborough during the construction of the Ikea distribution building and were inspired by the flat landscape, the expanse of sky and land, and how this was broken up and linked by the scattering of church spires along the horizon. It is this space between the buildings in the landscape that interested the sculptors. They were commissioned to create this artwork specifically for its site in Stanground and looking through the sculpture the viewer can form a perfect spire shape and as you move around the piece the shape and view changes. When was the artwork created: 2004 What is the artwork made from: Polished Stainless Steel Fire by David Annesley Artist: David Annesley Artwork: Fire Location: Sculpture Garden, Burghley House, Stamford, PE9 3JY www.Burghley.co.uk About the artwork: David Annesley’s sculpture uses form and colour to represent the dancing flames of a fire. Inspired by his time in the RAF, his sculptures convey a sense of lightness and movement in space, often through the use of bold colour and geometric shapes. Fire was acquired by the Peterborough Develop Corporation for the Orton Centre in 1980. This dynamic piece, made of welded steel, is now on long term loan to Burghley Sculpture Gardens. When was the artwork created: 1980 What is the artwork made from: Steel About the Artist: Born 1936, London. After taking part in National Service David Annesley studied at St Martins School of Art, London and was taught by Sir Anthony Caro. He then went on to hold several teaching posts and has exhibited widely. His works are included in several international collections, including three works in the Tate Collection. David Annesley is part of the ‘New Generation’ group of the 1960’s. Taught by sculptor Anthony Caro, the Group are known for placing sculptures directly on the ground, rather than a plinth, so that they occupy the same space as the viewer. About the Peterborough Sculpture Collection Nene Park manages the Peterborough Sculpture Collection and hosts many of the artworks within the beautiful back-drop of Thorpe Meadows and Ferry Meadows Country Park. The sculpture collection was originally assembled by the Peterborough Development Corporation between 1978 and 1988. The Corporation was set up in 1968 to provide homes, work and facilities and services for an additional 70,000 people that moved to the city in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Ferry Meadows Country Park was planned as part of this expansion to provide the growing population with a green space for leisure and recreation. During the 70’s and 80’s Peterborough Development Corporation bought and commissioned new artworks by some of the best British sculptors working at the time, they selected artworks that linked with the architectural style and planning of Peterborough and created a collection that reflected the diverse subject matter and practice of British sculptors creating new work at that time. The aim was to create a culturally rich City and a reference point in time for future generations. More recently sculptures by Jeni Cairns, Lee Mawby and Jason Thomson have been commissioned by Nene Park Trust with these contemporary artworks now joining the Peterborough Sculpture Collection. There are currently 22 artworks display for audiences to enjoy all year round. #NeneParkArt Why not send us a photo of your favourite sculpture, your favourite view or a newly discovered artwork? We’d love to hear what you think: @NeneParkPboro #NeneParkArt Want to know more? For more information about the Peterborough Sculpture Collection or our growing Art-In-the-Park programme please contact Louise Thirlwall, Project Development Officer (Arts) [email protected] Sculptures not currently on display State of the Nation by Doug Cocker Artist: Doug Cocker Artwork: State of the Nation Location: Currently not on display About the artwork: Created in 1986, State of a Nation depicts a temple on rockers with a wrecking ball locked in the columns. Doug Cocker’s work reflects contemporary social and political issues of the time, with State of the Nation implying that the social order and national pride, represented by the classic temple, is in a precarious position. When was the artwork created: 1986 What is the artwork made from: Aluminium Sheet About the Artist: Born Perthshire, 1945. Doug Cocker was born in Alyth, Perthshire and trained in sculpture at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee. Much of his work is exhibited in Scotland, but he has strong local connections with the area having lectured for ten years at Nene College, Northampton. Coming from a long line of farmers and blacksmiths much of his work is inspired by the landscape and nature that he grew up in. Doug Cocker has undertaken over forty public commission including a sculpture for the Ben Lomond National Memorial garden and has exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy, Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Louis Smith by Ben Dearnley Artist: Ben Dearnley Artwork: Louis Smith Location: Currently not on display About the artwork: Purchased by Vivacity and Peterborough City Council, this sculpture celebrates the role Louis Smith has played in inspiring young people to strive for sporting recognition and his success since the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics. When was the artwork created: 2012 What is the artwork made from: Bronze About the Artist: Born Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, 1964. Ben Dearnley is a contemporary British sculptor, currently based on the south-west coast of Ireland. He creates his work using a variety of materials, often mixing the methods and materials for different pieces and projects. In 2012 along with a solo show at Salisbury Cathedral, Ben Dearnley completed three huge bath stone carvings in the World Heritage City of Bath and In 2015 Ben Dearnley completed a sculpture project in Australia, for the Upper Hunter Valley Arts Trail. Opera Dog by Barry Flanagan Artist: Barry Flanagan Artwork: Opera Dog Location: currently not on display About the artwork: Opera Dog is a playful sculpture that depicts a life size dog. The artist’s careful use of clay, that has been cast in bronze, brings the sculpture to life with attentive face and alert ears. When was the artwork created: 1981 What is the artwork made from: Cast Bronze, Edition of 7 About the Artist: Born Prestatyn, Wales. 1941-2009. Barry Flanagan was a high profile sculptor whose work is held in public collections worldwide and his bronze works have been exhibited in many outdoor spaces, most notably on Park Avenue, New York, and at Grant Park, Chicago. He studied and subsequently taught at St Martin's School of Art, London. His work has been exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions, both in Britain and internationally and in 1982 he represented Britain at the Venice Biennale. Barry Flanagan is best known for his dynamic, often large scale, hares inspired by the magical experience of watching them running on the Sussex Downs. Manage Cookie Preferences