Art in the park
Enjoy a dose of culture and a breath of fresh air at some of the UK’s best outdoor art venues, with Gabrielle Albert’s tips
TOUT QUARRY SCULPTURE PARK AND NATURE RESERVE
Dorset
Situated on the Isle of Portland off the Dorset coast, this former quarry features a series of artworks etched into stone faces and fallen crags, creating an enchanting labyrinth of stone sculptures set above Chesil Beach and Portland Harbour.
Navigating the maze of paths, big boulders and mini valleys makes finding each artwork much like a game of hide-and-seek. There are thought to be around 60-70 sculptures in total, with new additions each year. You can also spot flora and fauna, such as the silver-studded blue butterfly. And if you fancy trying carving yourself, Portland Sculpture & Quarry Trust hold summer stone carving workshops for all skill levels (www. learningstone.org)
JUPITER ARTLAND
Edinburgh
Set over 100 acres of woodland and meadows within the grounds of the 17th Century Bonnington House, Jupiter Artland boasts an impressive permanent collection of ‘peculiar’ sculptures and visiting exhibitions for art enthusiasts and keen walkers to admire. From the entrance, visitors can spot the giant orchid ‘Love Bomb’ (top right), before finding many concrete and metal pieces that reside in between the broad leaves of trees.
Look for ‘Stone Coppice’ – where giant stones are suspended inside the limbs of trees and the stone ‘Weeping Girls’ (right).
Out in the open, huge grassy mounds with terraced slopes – called the Cells of Life – overlook giant pools of water, offering views across the rolling countryside to the Pentland hills.
West Yorkshire
Set within the 500-acre, 18th Century Bretton Hall estate, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park is one the of largest outdoor art spaces in the UK. Scattered among the trees and on open spaces are more than 80 sculptures featuring the work of sculptors, including Barbara Hepworth’s The Family of Man (right), Henry Moore’s huge bronzes and Damien Hirst’s The Virgin Mother. The park boasts some beautiful vistas, as well as lakeside and woodland walks with bridges, follies and interesting historical features.