Public art is open to all and a great way to get kids interested in art from a young age. Go on a road trip, bring your bikes, pack a picnic, get your hiking boots on and enjoy the great outdoors with a sprinkling of art!
A gallery “without walls”, this sculpture park is located within the grounds of 18th century Bretton House, with views that are said to rival the artwork! The park features events and changing exhibitions from renowned artists – it was part of the tour for the famous WWII remembrance poppies that “poured” out the Tower of London in 2014.
The original outdoor art is graffiti, of course and Banksy, arguably the most famous street artist of them all comes (we conjecture) from Bristol, which has resulted in the city being colourfully and inspirationally adorned. Walk the streets yourself or take in a tour that showcases Banksy originals and much more around Stokes Croft and the historical harbour.
Anthony Gormley’s giant steel structure on the A1 near Gateshead has been standing wings outstretched since 1998 and is considered the country’s most famous piece of public art. The awesome steel structure is 20 metres tall with a wingspan of a mammoth 54 metres and has to be seen to be believed.
The largest horse sculptures in the world are designed by Andy Scott to celebrate the heavy horses that once drove industry pulling wagons, barges and ploughs. Kelpies are mythological beast with the strength and endurance of 100 horses. These statues are 30 metres tall, weigh 300 tonnes each and are constructed from concrete and steel skin plates. Don’t miss the nearby Falkirk Wheel at the junction of the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals.
The Singing Ringing tree sculpture has been imaginatively designed by Mike Tonkin and Anna Liu to turn wind into music. A very exposed site on Crown Point with breath-taking views of Burnley is home to this fantastic piece comprising twenty layered sections with pipes at various angles to channel wind and manufacture sound.
