Sculpture at Beaulieu is taking shape in the grounds of Beaulieu’s Palace House, with a brand new trail to follow as you discover 250 incredible sculptures set in stunning surroundings.
Sponsored by Saffery Champness Accountants and Wilsons Solicitors LLP, Sculpture at Beaulieu from June 19th to August 30th will be a summer must-see, showcasing the work of over 50 international and national sculptors, throughout the beautiful grounds and gardens and inside the Montagu family home.
Lord Montagu said: “The gardens of Palace House make an excellent backdrop for sculpture, especially as there is a variety of distinctly different areas, each with its own theme. Introducing sculptural elements not only enriches a walk around the gardens but also gives you reason to stop and take in the atmosphere as you admire, or puzzle over, the works on display. More pieces are exhibited inside my ancestral home of Palace House where the aesthetic of period furniture and décor is enlivened by the addition of these contemporary works.”
The carefully planned trail, painstakingly brought together by Sculpture at Beaulieu curators David Waghorne and Kate McGovern, will lead you on a socially-distanced journey through the historic site.
Enjoy the light summer evenings and make an event of your visit to Sculpture at Beaulieu, with late opening from 5pm until 8pm every Thursday during July. Take a closer look at the exhibition and find your favourite piece as you wander through the grounds and gardens. Why not bring the children or grandchildren who can follow a children’s sculpture explorer trail and let off steam in the Little Beaulieu adventure play area. Then find a picnic bench and enjoy an al fresco picnic in beautiful surroundings.
From sculptures of extraordinary animals and figurative pieces, to eye-catching abstract works, there will be something to appeal to every taste. Stone, steel, glass, mixed media and more are amongst the materials and skilled techniques that have been used to create this striking and thought-provoking line-up.
An exhibition catalogue and trail guide will be available to visitors on arrival at Beaulieu, providing details of the sculptures on display, and some of the talented sculptors.
With every piece for sale, if a particular sculpture captures your heart, the works on offer will range in price from just £85 for the most petite and exquisite, right up to more than £100,000 for the biggest show-stoppers. For more details click here.
In the grounds, look out for Rachael Long’s life-sized rhinoceros, ingeniously fashioned from salvaged industrial metalwork. Local sculptor Michael Turner, who every year creates a trail of handmade poppies around the New Forest in aid of the Royal British Legion, will be contributing other breathtaking stainless steel works to the exhibition, including a peregrine falcon, leaping cheetah, horse’s head and leopard’s head.
Another local sculptor, based just a stone’s throw away from Beaulieu, is Gary Boulton, whose eye-catching kinetic and contemporary sculptures are inspired by nature, yet beautifully crafted from metal.
On a smaller scale, delightful sculptures of wild birds in the grounds, including owls, ravens, kestrels and kingfishers, are the creations of Paul Harvey, whose work can also be found in the Royal family’s own collection. Also celebrating the variety of animal kingdom are a life-sized bull, horse and bull terrier, all created in bronze by the late Brian Taylor.
Royal College of Art alumnus Paul Vanstone, whose stone figures have been exhibited at some of the world’s leading galleries, will be displaying a selection of powerful carvings. While Dawn Rowland, whose stunning carved heads explore the themes of duality and human relationships, will be displaying 13 stunning pieces across the Beaulieu Abbey cloister and inside Palace House.
Quite different but equally eye-catching are David Watkinson’s amazing kinetic sculptures, inspired by sycamore and dandelion seeds, which move in the breeze. Returning to Beaulieu is Shaun Gagg, displaying sculptures constructed from coins, nails, keys and other tiny objects painstakingly welded together.
For more details, click here.