Scotland's answer to the Angel of the North

The Kelpies

The Kelpies are 30-metre-high horse-head sculptures depicting kelpies (shape-shifting water spirits), standing next to a extension to the Forth and Clyde canal, in The Helix, a new parkland project built in the Falkirk area, Scotland. The 5 million pound sculptures were designed by sculptor Andy Scott and were completed in October 2013. The Glaswegian artists sculptures, which each consist of 300 tonnes of steel, are 10m taller than Gormley's Angel of the North, and they are becoming one of Scotland's most photographed landmarks.

We have visited the Kelpies twice now and on both occasions the weather wasn't the best but created some dramatic sky making for some excellent photos.

"stretch up your long necks to face the sun...."

The Kelpies are named after the mythical water horses said to be in Scottish lochs and rivers. However, Scott says the inspiration for his sculptures comes from the heavy horses that once powered Scotland's canals.

Some facts and figures about these massive sculptures: Each one weighs a massive 300 tone each, 1200 tonnes of steel-reinforced concrete foundations per head, 928 unique stainless steel skin-plates, built on site in 90 days all of which makes these the world's largest equine sculptures.

"..Bow down your strong head to taste the water"

I hope you can agree these are a magnificent sight to behold and are well worth the trip if you are ever up that way.

Although Andy hopes that they can become Scotland's answer to Antony Gormley's Angel of the North, I think another one of his works, also found in scotland, more fits the bill..... Arria: Scotland's Metal Mermaid.

Arria

There is no missing Arria when driving towards Sterling, along the M80. She sits on top of a hill in the small town of Cumbernauld in Scotland. Standing at 10 meters tall, she literally welcomes visitors with open arms. Nicknamed by one publication the "Angel of the Nauld" as a tongue-in-cheek reference to the "Angel of the North" at Gateshead.

Arria takes the form of a female figure, with two large swooping arcs from the upraised palms of her hands to the hem of her dress. The idea of the arcs comes from the Gaelic name for Cumbernauld, “comar nan allt”, which translates as “the meeting of the waters”.

Scott now has large public art sculptures all over Scotland and around the world in places such as London, Sydney and Dubai. But the work that started it all off for him was the Heavy Horse which was placed beside the M8 east of Glasgow in 1997. He has two pieces in my hometown of Leeds: Equus Altus, inside Trinity and The Briggate Minerva which I shall be going to again soon to photograph.

Thanks, as always, for taking the time to read. If you like what you see why not take a look at ly Gallery? Click here