The Trail Begins!

Chameleon and Egret (with interested, thirsty cows!)

Our Sculpture Trail at Stourhead National Trust Estate, entitled 'Beyond the Garden Gate', is now up and running throughout September (normal NT admission applies).  The past week was, for all of us, a huge exertion of energy and effort to successfully bring together our Trail and the grand Private view opening yesterday evening.  We were blessed with beautiful weather which helped create a magical tour for our first visitors.  

Capri Marquee from our Sponsor Adams Marquees

Some of our first visitors through Arch & Nest (Fiona) above - and more below 

Bacchus (Paul and Rachel)

Egret (Anthony)

Amphibian (Paul and Rachel)

Insects (painting - Paul)

Heron - above and below (Fiona)

Bacchus' Musicians - above and below (Paul and Rachel)

Chameleon (Fiona)

Heron (Rachel and Paul)

Starfish Fungus (Fiona)

Butterfly (Fiona)

Cocoon IV (Fiona)

We have already had some wonderful feedback and interest in our work.  Here are some visitors' comments:

"Many many thanks for the invite to Stourhead tonight. It was all magnificent, what luck with the weather, the light and the setting. It is also so witty!

The wine was pretty good too...."

Bob French

"Stourhead was a spectacular setting for all those exotic, clever and beautiful sculptures; particularly enjoyed your Chameleon and the Egret."

Victoria Grinter

"Love the integration into the grounds - brilliant!"

Christine Dean

"A super child-friendly eclectic show"

Nick Somerville

"Going around trying to find the un-natural creatures was a thrill!"

Tristan Stevens

Thanks to Stourhead for the beautiful venue and all our Sponsors who have contributed to the Trail's success:

Adams Marquees www.adamsmarquees.co.uk

Hicks & Don Wine Merchants www.hicksanddon.co.uk

JD Recycling Warminster

John Shepherd Feeders www.johnshepherdfeeders.com

Pylle Motor Spares

Regenersis www.regenersis.com

Ripe Digital Printers www.ripedigital.co.uk

Sureset Resin Paving www.sureset.co.uk

VJ Ultra www.vjultra.co.uk

White Space  www.whitespace.co.uk

Wookey Hole www.wookey.co.uk

And thanks to all other friends and supporters for their kind donations of scrap materials

Scraptors install more works in Stourhead Sculpture Trail

The Scraptors got very wet and muddy installing Herons in one of the ponds at Six Wells on the National Trust property of Stourhead for the sculpture trail to be in place throughout September. Above is Anthony's Egret meets a creature from the Deep.  Fiona's large scrap steel Heron was a bigger job to install and a great relief when it was in - see images below of both Herons being installed. 

Below is Anthony's Giant Barn Owl Flying and Fiona's Copper Owl in a large dead tree. Paul is going to paint the whole tree to resemble an owl and it reflects the Ancient Greek veneration of owls as symbols of Wisdom. Other owl sculptures  have been placed in the tree by Paul and Rachel. One of the themes of the trail is the classical mythology represented in the artworks in the house and garden of Stourhead. .

Yamaha to Egret

 Anthony is making an egret for one of the lakes at Stourhead in the sculpture trail that will be in the woods throughout September. It occurred to him that the body of that bird  is somewhat like the shape of the petrol tank of a motorbike. So he went to Langford Car Spares near Shaftesbury in Dorset to and found this Yamaha RD350 petrol tank.You will see in the images below the Shaftesbury Monsters that Anthony made in 2005 from bits and pieces from the Car Spares yard. They are inspired by the medieval grotesque carvings from Shaftesbury Abbey which you can see in a museum in the town. The Monsters have become somewhat overgrown so Anthony gave them a trim to bring them back more like their original state as in he bottom image. .