There’s nothing quite like getting lost in a literal maze of trees and sculptures — especially when you’re surrounded by the more than 650 sculptures and the magnificently tall trees and beautiful water gardens of Britain’s The Sculpture Park.
At every corner and turn — almost every step — visitors walking through the 2 miles of meandering trails in the park are greeted with works of art that help illustrate the important synergy between nature and creativity.
The Sculpture Park is the world’s largest sculpture park. The park is committed to helping its 300 artists promote and sell their work, so sculpture lovers don’t even have to buy a plane ticket to London to experience this creative and artistic mecca first-hand. (I do recommend it to anyone traveling through the area. It’s located about 45 minutes south of London and admission is just £10 for adults.) Instead, art lovers can explore the park via Google Earth, browse its online catalogue of more than 1,200 sculptures or explore the different areas of the park through a cool 360-degree virtual tour.
Here are just a few of my favorite pieces.
“The 4 Horses of Apocalypse,” a steel and found objects sculpture by Anthony Heywood, makes pollution’s role in our planet’s destruction clear. Photograph by Maria Sprow / Artinistic.
“Jazz Man,” a bronze statue by artist Helen Sinclair, resides next to a seating area and a totem pole and other sculptures in the garden. Photo by Maria Sprow / Artinistic.
“Pre-Hysteric,” a bronze resin sculpture by Andrew Sinclair shows a woman on a wild ride. Photo by Maria Sprow / Artinistic.
“Metamorphosis,” a bronze sculpture by Paul Green, either depicts a man coming out of his shell or a man losing his humanity. You decide. Photo by Maria Sprow / Artinistic.
Steven Hunton’s multiple copper “Heads” sculptures depict a post-apocalyptical species in gas masks. Photo by Maria Sprow / Artinistic.
“The Delights of Eden,” a whimsical welded steel sculpture by Jim Unsworth. Photo by Maria Sprow / Artinistic.
The Spectras are multi-media steel and acrylic sculptures that play with light rays through out the day. Photo by Maria Sprow / Artinistic.
“Arbour Metallium,” by Mark Reed, is a tree made of stainless steel, steel, metal and other materials posted along a path of giant wood-carved toad stools. Photo by Maria Sprow / Artinistic.
“Rutting Stags,” one of several of the fantastic driftwood sculptures by James Doran-Webb featured in the park. Photo by Maria Sprow / Artinistic.
A Bronze “Icarus” sculpture by Nicola Godden. Photo by Maria Sprow / Artinistic.
A giant eagle sculpture jumps out of the English forest in The Sculpture Park. Photo by Maria Sprow / Artinistic.
The spherical “Pollination” by Ruth Moilliet, is made of Stainless Steel and Anodised Aluminium and depicts the importance of bees to the Earth’s health. Photo by Maria Sprow / Artinistic.
A sculpture shows a woman’s spirit growing from and disappearing into nature. Photo by Maria Sprow / Artinistic.
“Girl with Long Hair,” a metal and wire sculpture by John Lord. Photo by Maria Sprow / Artinistic.
“I Beg Your Pardon” is one of many lively skeleton sculptures by Wilfred Pritchard shown throughout the park. Photo by Maria Sprow / Artinistic.
“Armed Halliday,” by Avray-Wilson, makes a statement about the fetishization of war and violence by man and its dehumanizing effects. Photo by Maria Sprow / Artinistic.
The looming “Doctor Foster,” a Steel, Galvanised and Powder coated sculpture by Paul Richardson, offers passersby a friendly hello at The Sculpture Park. Photo by Maria Sprow / Artinistic.
“Runners Gift,” by Janis Ridley, runs for freedom. Photo by Maria Sprow / Artinistic.
A giant dragon made by renowned driftwood sculptor James Doran-Webb.