Public art walks in Tyne and Wear
Nine easy routes in Newcastle,Gateshead,
Sunderland,North Tyneside & South Tyneside.
Art Galleries and Museums
The North East of England has developed an MAP 1 MAP 4
acclaimed reputation for combining world class a VANE Contemporary Art j Workplace
culture with regeneration, and public art now 0191 261 8281 www.workplacegallery.co.uk
www.vane.org.uk
plays an important role within our public b Waygood Gallery
buildings and spaces in Tyne and Wear. 0191 265 6857 MAP 5
www.waygood.org k Northern Gallery For
Contemporary Art
There are 9 maps to help you explore public art 0191 514 1235
MAP 2 www.ngca.co.uk
across Tyne and Wear, discover great museums, c l
Globe City Sunderland Museum and
new art galleries and see how artists have 0191 2221666 Winter Garden
contributed to the area from Victorian statues www.globegallery.org www.twmuseums.org.
d Laing Art Gallery uk/sunderland/
to contemporary art. 0191 232 7734
www.twmuseums.org.uk/laing
MAP 6
e University Gallery
The TyneWear Partnership champions economic m National Glass Centre
0191 227 4424
development, regeneration and culture. By 2023 we want online.northumbria. 0191 515 5555
ac.uk/gallery/ www.nationalglasscentre.com
to be one of Europe’s fastest growing Metropolitan areas
f Hatton Gallery
driving the economic and cultural life of the North East. 0191 222 6059
MAP 7
We would like everyone in Tyne and Wear to share this www.ncl.ac.uk/hatton/
n Customs House
vision. www.tynewearpartnership.org 0191 454 1234
MAP 3 www.customshouse.co.uk
g Side gallery
To find out more about public art in the North East of 0191 2322208
MAP 9
England please visit www.commissionsnorth.org www.amber-online.com
o Globe Hub
h Baltic Centre for
0191 2592614
Contemporary Art
www.globegallery.org
0191 478 1810
www.visitsunderland.com www.balticmill.com
www.visitnewcastlegateshead.com i The Sage Gateshead
www.gateshead.gov.uk 0191 443 4661
www.visitsouthtyneside.co.uk www.thesagegateshead.com
www.visitnorthtyneside.com
www.visitnorthumbria.com
STR
E Eldon Square
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Newcastle Grainger Town 13
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Chinatown 11 12 16
This route is approximately 1.75 miles and flat. The Grainger
EET
Theatre
17
STR
Gate Market
10 Grainger Royal
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T Town
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Market
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1 Vulcan – Sir Eduardo Paolozzi 5 Grainger Town Map – 14 Head Cubes – Simon Watkinson
AIN
TR
AY
NE
8 YS
CL
GR
(2000) bronze Tod Hanson & Simon Watkinson ELE (2002) perspex cubes with glass
Eduardo Paolozzi was born in (2003) bronze and granite WEST M OS 4 Perspex cubes are set into the floor
GATE
Edinburgh in 1924, and his images This playful map of Newcastle’s 7 ROAD 18 around the plinth of Grey’s Monument
are drawn from an interest in post-war Grainger Town focuses on the 4 3 and are castings taken from the Earl’s
5 T
science, technology and the mass architectural landmarks from Central NEV ILLE S head on the monument. The artist was
media. Vulcan by Eduardo Paolozzi is Station to Greys Monument. Artist 6 inspired by the story of Earl Grey’s head
over 7 metres tall and was Simon Watkinson said: “we wanted to being knocked off the Grey’s
commissioned by Parabola Estates for make something more interesting than Central Station Monument by a bolt of lightening.
their award winning Central Square just a flat map. We had the idea of it
REE
T 1
building. The sculpture appears to be being a layered city – from the old H ST 15 Parson’s Polygon – David
RT
of a humanoid machine, a monument medieval times to the late Georgian a FO 2 Hamilton (1985) ceramic relief
to the modern age. Vulcan was the classicism you see in Grainger Town.”
The Parson’s Polygon sculpture is also
Roman god of fire and patron of
10 Ellipsis Eclipses – Danny Lane the ventilation shaft for the metro line
craftsmanship and is shown with a 6 Cardinal Hume Monument – (2005) stainless steel plinth below. The ‘Parsons’ of the title refers
hammer as the tool of his trade.
Nigel Boonham (2002) bronze and stacked glass to Sir Charles Parsons (1854-1931), the
Cardinal George Basil Hume (1923 – The title ‘Ellipsis Eclipses’ is a play on designer of “Turbinia” a turbine
2 Reaching for the Stars – 1999) was born in Newcastle. He was powered vessel, which in 1897 achieved
words based on its form, derived from
Kenneth Armitage the Ninth Archbishop of Westminster the intersection of two circles (or ellipses) 34 knots. The designs in the clay tiles
(2002) bronze and a Benedictine monk. like the eclipse of the moon or sun. are based on Parson’s engineering
Kenneth Armitage (1916–2002) was Queen Elizabeth II opened the 3m high drawings and Turbinia can now be seen
born in Leeds. He first attracted bronze and new public space at St in the nearby Discovery Museum.
international attention in the 1950’s as Mary’s Cathedral in 2002. The sculpture 11 Objects of Beauty – Gilly Rogers
one of a group of young British stands on a flat stone plinth in the (2004) tools and perspex
16 Nine Things To Do On A Bench –
sculptors, including Lynn Chadwick and shape of the Northumbrian island of ‘Objects of Beauty’ was unveiled in the
unusual setting between a ladies toilet Cate Watkinson and Julia
Eduardo Paolozzi. Reaching for the Stars Lindesfarne, where St. Cuthbert held
and a hairdressers in Grainger Market. Darling (2001) etched glass
was commissioned by Parabola Estates his hermitage in the middle ages.
Small tools used in everyday beauty Julia Darling’s words are etched into
as part of the Central Square
routines, including tweezers, eyelash the glass seats around the Grey’s
developments which began the 7 Tyne Line of Text Flow –
curlers and scissors are set into perspex Monument area. The designs are the
regeneration of the Stephenson Quarter
Carol Sommer, Sue Downing blocks and backlit. result of collaboration between poet,
behind Newcastle Central Station.
and William Herbert Julia Darling, glass artist Cate
(2005) stainless steel Watkinson and Insite Design to create
3 George Stephenson The 140m long stream of text messages 12 Grainger Dedication – contemporary street furniture in the
Monument – John Graham combines Roman messages found locally Charlie Holmes (1999) cast iron historic heart of Grainger Town.
Lough (1862) bronze at Hadrians Wall, printed text from the This dedication is to Richard Grainger
George Stephenson (1781-1848) time of King Charles I and text messages who was responsible for the design of
Newcastle city centre. Born in 1797 the 17 Theatre Royal –
developed a steam locomotive for use collected on the day of the Newcastle
son of a Quayside porter Grainger built Simon Watkinson (2002)
on colliery tram lines which was the Sunderland football derby in 2004.
the Grainger Market, Greys Monument, Subtle LED lighting is used to create
basis of the world’s first passenger
the Theatre Royal, Grey Street and an animated curtain of light within the
railway on the Stockton-Darlington line 8 Ever Changing – Eilis O’Connell Grainger Street which give Newcastle portico of the Theatre Royal. Artist
in 1825 and he is probably the most
(2005) stainless steel its architectural character today. Simon Watkinson worked with Arup
well known Geordie of them all. Born
The mirror-polished inverted cone, Engineers in developing the reflective
in Northumberland, he became an
appears to defy gravity. Its title refers PVC canopy set within the coffer space,
engineman in the Newcastle coalfield 13 Grey’s Monument –
to the fact that the environment will be which heightens the intensity of light
and in 1815 invented his ‘Geordie’ Edward Hodges Baily (1837)
continually reflected on the surface of enabling the theatre to be lit in a
safety lamp. Legend has it that this portland stone
the sculpture, mirroring the variety of colours.
is how Geordies got their name. The statue of Earl Grey stands on a
surrounding architecture, the changing
skies, the movement of people. fluted Roman Doric column and was
18 Monument to Queen Victoria –
4 Man with Potential Selves – built by subscription to commemorate
the author of the Great Reform Bill. Alfred Gilbert (1903) bronze
Sean Henry 9 Chinese Arch – Yonglai Zhang Charles Earl Grey also championed the The figure of Queen Victoria in this
(2003) coloured bronze sculpture is a replica of the ‘Jubilee
(2005) wood, stone and abolition of slavery throughout the
Man With Potential Selves is a three Monument’ made by the sculptor that
glazed tiles British empire. In 1806 he was
part bronze sculpture opposite stands in Winchester. The Queen sits with
The ceremonial arch now graces the appointed First Lord of the Admiralty
Newcastle Central Station. Henry is a crown on her head and orb and sceptre
entrance to Newcastle’s China Town and later Leader of the House of
quoted as saying: “They are three alter in either hand on an elaborate throne. The
opposite St James’s Park. It was Commons and became Prime
egos of the same man. It is very orb in the Queen’s hand was intended to
constructed by a team of traditional Minister in 1830.
important for people realise that it have an, ‘ideal representation of Victory’
craftsmen from China in 2004 and
is the same man and that he is an on top but this was lost in the casting.
commissioned as part of the Grainger
Everyman character.”
Town urban regeneration programme.
2
Newcastle
This route is just short of 1.5 miles and flat.
f 26 6th Northumberland Fusiliers
Hatton 27 Civic War Memorial –
Gallery 28 Centre John Reid, Rene Bowman
(1924) bronze
23
Situated next to the West end of St.
25 24 Thomas’s Church at Barras Bridge this
22 First World War Memorial bronze of St.
29 26 e
ST MARY’S PLACE 21 George holds a sword, with a dragon’s
ST Haymarket 30 head at his feet and commemorates
COLL
TH
OM City Hall the fallen of the 6th (Territorial)
AS & Pool 20
EET
EG
’S
T Battalion of Northumberland Fusiliers
E STR
STR
W
LE RO
SAVIL
E
JOHN
AT
EET
27 Monument to Lord Armstrong –
WG
DOBS
NE
William Hamo Thornycroft
NOR
(1906) bronze
ON ST
d
THUM
Lord Armstrong is shown standing next
Laing Art to a table with a scroll of drawings in
BERL
Eldon Square Library Gallery his hand. The panels on the plinth
AND
19 beneath show some aspects of his
work as an engineer. The position of
ST
Grey’s Monument the statue in front of the Hancock
Museum was chosen because he had
been President of the Natural History
c Society from 1893 until his death.
19 Blue Carpet – Thomas Heatherwick 21 Pillar Man – Nicolaus Widerberg 24 Swans In Flight – David Wynne 28 Escapology – Cath Campbell
(2001) tiles and glass (2004) bronze and stone (1968) bronze (2006) Western Red Cedar
Thomas Heatherwick’s public square transformed an unloved Commissioned to celebrate the opening of Northumbria The sculpture’s subject is based on ‘Escapology’ is a dramatic cascading
space around the Laing Art Gallery. ‘The Blue Carpet’ University’s newly extended art gallery. The 6.5 metre high the poem “The Swans of the North” structure created from 456 metres of
introduces a cohesive surface laid across the square and up bronze stands in a symbolic river of black granite, marking written by Hans Hartvig Seedorff un-treated Western Red Cedar for the
against the gallery. The carpet draws the buildings together the course of Pandon Burn that flows 20 metres below. Pederson. The swans represent the roofline of the new theatre
and creates an intimate open space for both performance and Scandinavian countries and the strong development that houses international
play. The surface has been peeled back to create benches and 22 Untitled – Austin Wright links between Newcastle and those theatre company Northern Stage.
light voids, and the project incorporates an elegant laminated (1981) aluminium countries.
wooden spiral staircase. At 19m long abstract work depicting
29 Spiral Nebula –
the shapes and forms of a landscape
25 The Response-1914 – Geoffrey Clarke
20 Book Stack – Fred Watson viewed from above. The subtle
aluminium shapes show Wright’s John William Goscombe (1962) steel
(1992) granite (1923) bronze This is one of the oldest works of the
Watson was born in Gateshead and interest in rock forms and their texture.
‘The Response’ of the title refers to the modern era sited in the City. The artist
taught Fine Art at the University. soldiers of responding to the call to also collaborated with the architect of
His fifteen granite books provide a 23 River God Tyne – David Wynne arms in 1914. Although the title of the the Herschel building, Sir Basil Spence,
welcome to this academic area of (1968) bronze monument refers to the call to arms in on Coventry Cathedral.
the city centre and the sculpture Water streams from the outstretched 1914, the subject matter for the
was unveiled by the Duchess of hand of the River God. Originally bronze relief has been identified as the
Northumberland when Newcastle patinated black the natural weathering 30 South African War Memorial –
massing of the 5th Northumberland
Polytechnic became a University has turned the surface green. The idea Thomas Eyre Macklin
Fusiliers in April 1915. They marched
in 1992. for a River God originates from the from their camp in Gosforth Park, (1908) bronze and fibreglass
representations of eight rivers on the through the Haymarket and on to the ‘Victory’ stands on top of the obelisk
façade of Somerset House in London Central Station before embarking to and the idealised figure of
(1786), where the head of River Tyne fight in the First World War. ‘Northumbria’ reaches up to her at
has three beards and is surmounted by the north side of the plinth. Built as
a basket of coals and fish. a memorial to the soldiers who died in
the South African War 1899-1902 the
names of the fallen soldiers are on
shields attached to the south, east
and west sides of the plinth.
3
NewcastleGateshead
This route is just over 1 mile with either a fair amount of
steps up to The Sage Gateshead or a fairly steep slope up to it.
T
41
35 Trinity 39 40 37 River God – Andre Wallace
Gardens 38
36 (1996) bronze figure on a
37
Law steel column
Live Courts Partner piece to ‘Siren’ the ‘River God’
Theatre Millennium is a male figure with only a torso and
Side 34 E Bridge h
YSID head. The sculptures were
Gallery QUA
Baltic commissioned as part of the
g
ROA
D regeneration of the Quayside as part
E
HOR of the Art on the Riverside scheme
31 Ribbon of Colour – Kate Maestri Tyne Bridge TH S
SOU 31 Gateshead funded by the Arts Council Lottery
(2004) glass Swing Br The Sage i
The glass balustrade is made up of 51 glass panels and runs
Quays scheme.
Gateshead
100m along the the concourse of The Sage Gateshead High 33 32
designed by Foster and Partners which has helped to lead Level 38 Column and Steps –
the cultural renaisance of Gateshead Quays. Br Andrew Burton
Hotel (1996) bronze
Andrew Burton is an artist who works
primarily on large-scale sculpture
projects for the public realm. He is a
32 Star Ceiling – Jo Fairfax
Senior Lecturer at Newcastle University.
(2005) lighting “My sculpture is about many themes.
Star Ceiling is a lighting installation Current work is about the language of
made from 116 fibre optic strands of the sea, hooks, chains, rudders, strong
different lengths suspended above the and elemental forms. Animals and
lifts behind The Sage Gateshead. The architecture are also important
lights are programmed to change themes.”
colour to produce an ordered
representation of the night sky.
39 Rudder – Andrew Burton
(1996) bronze
33 Beacons – David Pearl
Rudder is a partner piece to Column
(2004) steel, perspex and light and Steps nearby. The 1990s saw the
A series of illuminated Beacons have transformation of Newcastle’s
been commissioned to signpost routes Quayside. Costing £170 million, Tyne
to the cultural attractions of and Wear Development Corporation’s
35 Give and Take –
Gateshead Quays. overall scheme was designed by Terry
Peter Randall-Page 41 Blacksmiths Needle –
(2004) stone Farrell Associates, with public art being
seen as integral to the aesthetic appeal Members of the British Association of Blacksmith
The surface pattern follows the geodesic geometry found in Artists (1996) forged steel
molecular structure and consists of 630 hexagons and 12 of the area.
Launched in 1997 by Evelyn Glennie, the percussionist
pentagons carved into the surface of a 40 tonne glacial ringing a bell which hangs inside the needle, the Needle has
boulder from Fort William in Scotland. Randall-Page said: “this 40 Swirle Pavilion – six sections. Each section contains objects, mainly with a
is the culmination of twenty five years studying organic form Raf Fulcher (1998) maritime theme, which relate to one of the senses including
and explores the relationship between geometry and biology”. stone, concrete and metal ‘the mysterious sixth’. The objects were made in public
The pavilion has the names of various ‘forge-ins’ by the British Association of Blacksmith Artists.
36 Siren – Andre Wallace towns carved around the inner rim that
(1995) bronze on a steel were taken by the artist from a faded
column sign at Plummer Chare, approximately
Greek legend has it that the Sirens 500m west. The sign advertised the
lured sailors to their death with the major destinations of the Tyne-Tees
beauty of their singing. The bronze Steam Shipping Company Ltd from
torso is smoothly formed with the head Newcastle and Middlesbrough in the
34 Tributary – John Maine RA
having a slightly exaggerated scale with nineteenth century. The Pavilion’s name
(2005) reclaimed and new granite paving a bell for an earring. originates from a short street called the
Tracing the course of the Lort Burn ‘Tributary’ is a subtle artist Swirle that led from a point at which
led design within a new traffic scheme, forming part of the Sandgate became St. Mary’s Street,
fabric of the street leading down to the Newcastle Quayside. where the Half Moon tavern stood in
the 1890s. The street name is thought
to refer to the stream that it covered
and which flowed into the Tyne at
this point.
4
Gateshead
This route is approximately 2 miles. 3 miles if the extension
to Staiths South Bank is included. The route slopes steadily
for the most part with a steeper incline in the middle.
Millennium Br h 45 Sports Day – Mike Winstone
Baltic (1986) concrete
Mike Winstone was Gateshead’s
Central Station i Gateshead sculptor in residence from 1985-86.
Tyne Br Quays
Swing The Sage Sports Day alludes to Gateshead’s
Br Gateshead international reputation as an athletics
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE High venue. By making a humorous image
Level Br of the figure competing in a sack race,
BO
TT
the artist hoped to have people
LE
BA
Hotel identify with it more readily than they
NK
47 might if the traditionally heroic athlete
48 were used.
Old
GATESHEAD
Queen 46 Town
Elizabeth II 49 Hall
Bridge
HIGH
WES
GATES
STREE
T ST
King Edward 45
Bridge
HEAD
j
T
ST
Redheugh SON
FLYOV
42 JACK
Bridge Gateshead ST 48 Rolling Moon – Colin Rose
LES
ER
Interchange AR
50 CH (1990) steel
TS
T Originally designed for a lake at the 1988 Glasgow Garden
HIGH
EN 43 Festival Rolling Moon was subsequently re-sited by Gateshead
REG
WES
MBC at its new Riverside Sculpture Park. The sculptor said:
T ST
44 “I had done a lot of work on the tides and the weather and
Civic the rolling moon was a development of those ideas”.
Centre
Staiths South Bank 49 Goats – Sally Matthews
(1992) metal
The sculptures consist of welded metal
43 The Family – Gordon Young 46 Acceleration – John Creed armatures combining scrap materials
(1991) Shap limestone (2005) steel and textured aggregate cement. On
Three separate groupings of figures The seven metre long artwork is situated opposite the Old her use of animals for subject matter
make up this piece and reflect Town Hall and was commissioned to enhance the public realm the artist says: “I want my work to
relationships in the principal stages of linkages between Gateshead Town Centre and Gateshead remind people of our need for animals
life: childhood, maturity and old age. Quays, whilst referencing the former railway engineering and the example their nature provides
As a title, The Family refers less to works in this historic quarter. us with”.
that unit and more to a ‘family’ of
interconnected sculptures celebrating
relationships common to the whole 47 Cone – Andy Goldsworthy 50 Once Upon a Time –
human ‘family’. (1990) steel plate Richard Deacon
Cone stands in Gateshead Riverside (1990) painted mild steel
Sculpture Park, artist Andy Richard Deacon is widely regarded as
44 Threshold – Lulu Quinn
Goldsworthy stated that “the scrap one of the principal British sculptors,
(2003) stainless steel best known for his innovative use of
steel cone stands on the site of an old
and sound open form and his interest in materials
foundry and touches the nature of an
Threshold is an interactive sound and their manipulation. Working on
42 Opening Line – Danny Lane urban environment. This cone draws
sculpture taking the form of a both a domestic and monumental
(2004) glass and steel strength and meaning from the nature
large-scale stainless steel doorway scale, his structures combine organic
Public transport operator Nexus has fully recognised the of steel, city and a site that is now
to Gateshead High Street. Sound and biomorphic forms with elements
potential of art within public transport for over 30 years. grown over and wooded, where not so
recordings from 300 local people of engineering. ‘Once upon a time’ is
Danny Lane’s sculpture ‘Opening Line’ is a 90-metre long long ago people lived and worked.”
and animals from Bill Quay Farm built onto the surviving abutment wall
sequence of forms in steel and glass that can be read like are triggered to play at random. of the demolished Redheugh Bridge.
an epic frieze cutting through the centre of the busy It is said to represent ‘the demise of
transport interchange. heavy industry in the region’.
5
Sunderland 1
This is a short route of about 1 mile
with a short rise at the half way point.
54 Mowbray Park Poetry – 57 Monument to Major General
FAWCETT
Linda France, Alec Peever, Sir Henry Havelock –
Craig Knowles (2000) William Behnes (1861) bronze
Poetry by Linda France has been Sir Henry Havelock (1795-1857) was
S
sculpted by letter cutter Alec Peever born at Bishop-Wearmouth. His role in
Northern
TREET
and blacksmith Craig Knowles across the Indian mutiny of 1857 earned him
Gallery for the refurbished Victorian park. considerable press in England. He was
Contemporary Art AD The words in the cupola of the gazebos held up as an example of military
UGH RO are taken from the poem The Ark in excellence and devout character,
k
B ORO The Park by Linda France whilst the becoming a popular hero, which led to
phrases and thoughts on the benches him being created knight then baron in
HOLMESIDE
l Sunderland Museum are from work that the poet led with late 1857.
51 and Winter Gardens community groups and refer to people’s
memories of Mowbray Park. 58 Childrens play area –
52
Richard Caink
59 60 55 Monument to John Candlish (2000) Elm
53 MP – Charles Bacon These playful sculptures were made
TOWARD
(1875) bronze from the elm trees felled in the park
John Candlish (1816-1874) was born during redevelopment to enhance the
near Bellingham in Northumberland children’s play area. The images are
Civic 54 55
BURDON ROAD
and moved to Ayres Quay in based on Alice in Wonderland as Lewis
ROAD
Centre Sunderland as a young man. He Carroll spent time writing in Sunderland.
56 became editor of the Sunderland
Beacon newspaper in 1842, started a 59 Walrus – Andrew Burton
58 bottle-making business at Seaham,
(2000) bronze
made his fortune from exporting food
There is an apocryphal story that Lewis
to the Empire. Conservative for the first
Mowbray half of his life, Candlish later converted
Carroll wrote The Walrus and the
Carpenter after seeing a stuffed walrus
Park to Radicalism and Free Trade principles.
in the lobby of Sunderland Museum.
57 He was elected as Liberal councillor in
The dates make this impossible,
1848, Mayor in 1858, MP in 1866 and
although he is thought to have written
gave much of his money to libraries,
Jabberwocky while staying in nearby
R OAD hospitals and schools.
PARK Whitburn. The story was however the
inspiration for the waterside sculpture
56 Monument to Jack Crawford – of a walrus commissioned from
51 Monolith – William Pye 52 Mowbray Gates – Percy Wood (1890) bronze Andrew Burton.
(2001) steel and water Jack Crawford (1775-1831) was born
Wendy Ramshaw OBE
Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens is a landmark in Sunderland and served in the navy 60 Victoria Hall Tragedy Memorial –
(1998) powder coated steel
project for the development of the city and features the at the battle of Camperdown. When
The complex design of the gate was W.G. Brooker (1884) stone
largest public art programme so far funded by the Heritage the British colours were shot away
developed from geomtric shapes and The most moving piece in the park is
Lottery Fund. from the flagship he nailed them back
images from Sunderland history, which undoubtedly the Victoria Hall Tragedy
The Winter Gardens designed by Napper Architects features to the mast, to ensure that the rest of
is typical of Ramshaws work. Born in Memorial. The Victoria Hall was a large
William Pye’s ‘Monolith’, a 10-meter tall stainless steel water the fleet did not lose heart. He
Sunderland in 1939 the artist learned concert hall facing onto Mowbray Park.
sculpture within an excellent botanical collection of over returned a hero and was awarded a
to draw in the museum and has now In June 1883 a children’s variety show
1500 plants of 146 species. silver medal and an annual pension of
been awarded an OBE to acknowledge was presented for the families of mine
£30. However, Crawford’s fortunes did
her position as one of Britains foremost and shipyard workers however a tragic
not continue and he was forced to sell
jewellery designers. accident left 183 children dead whilst
his medal. He died in a cholera
rushing for the exits. Newspaper
epidemic and is buried in Trinity
53 Sunderland First and Second reports triggered a mood of national
Churchyard, Sunderland.
outrage and the resulting enquiry
World War Memorial –
established the safety standard that
Richard Ray (1922) bronze
public venues should be fitted with a
The war memorial features a winged
minimum number of outward opening
figure of Victory on a tall polished
emergency exits. A public subscription
Tuscan column situated between the
raised funds for a memorial statue that
Victorian Mowbray Park and
was restored and relocated to
Sunderland Civic Centre. Victory holds
Mowbray Park in 2002.
out a laurel wreath in her right hand
and a torch in her left.
6
Sunderland 2
The second route in Sunderland is along the
riverfront from the Wearmouth Bridge to Roker
seafront. The route is approximately 3.25 miles
65 Watching and Waiting – 69 Taking Flight – Craig Knowles
Colin Wilbourn, Karl Fisher, (1997) steel
NE W
Craig Knowles, Chaz Brenchley Four steel girders grow as they get
CAST
W
(1995) sandstone, bronze and nearer the water with a cormorant
R VIE
LE R
67 steel gradually emerging and taking flight.
BOU
OAD
68 Wilbourn found a reference to ‘Look Artist Craig Knowles said: ‘The
HAR
Out Hill’ on old maps of the area and sculpture suggests the transition of the
71 asked the developers to create a new St. Peter’s area from an industrial past
69 70 into something more natural’
66 mound to look out over the Wear. The
steel book features a piece of writing
KIE
RH about the sea by Brenchley, one of the
AR
DIE
70 Stone Stair Carpet –
WA 65 loose leaves is written in Braille.
Y Colin Wilbourn
(1992) stone
Stadium Sunderland 66 Flight – Craig Knowles Colin Wilbourn carved the existing
of Light Harbour (1997) steel stone steps that were once part of the
ENUE
R AV The two cormorants fly in between original docks with imagery related to
R OKE 72
73 64 stylised clouds on a decorative weather the housing that predated the
St. Peter’s Church vane, and make up one of fifteen shipyards.
National works made throughout a decade
Glass 63 which saw the decline and demolition
S T 71 High Tide –
HY Centre m of shipyards and the reinvention of the
OT Karl Fisher, Craig Kowles, Colin
OR
ED River Wear, with a new university
DA
M Wilbourn and Chaz Brenchley
campus, marina, fish quay, housing
(2000) cast concrete and steel
University and the National Glass Centre.
High Tide is the final sculpture of the
61 62 St. Peter’s Riverside Sculpture Project,
installed in 2001 on Roker Beach,
Wearmouth Bridge where the River Wear meets the sea.
It consists of a set of lunar pieces,
seven phases of the moon caught in
61 Shadows in Another Light – 63 Light Transformer – concrete bowls with Brenchley’s words
Craig Knowles, Colin Wilbourn Stepan Pala and Zora Palova around the rims.
and Karl Fischer (1998) cast glass
(1998) steel, concrete, wood Commissioned to mark the opening of 72 Always Open Gates –
and stone the National Glass Centre the
Colin Wilbourn and Karl Fisher
The giant concrete rivets, nuts and sculpture is the largest work of cast
(1992) steel
bolts stretching from near to the glass in the UK weighing 1000
The gates were the first piece to be
Wearmouth Bridge to the University of kilograms. Both artists were born in
67 Passing Through – completed for the St. Peters Riverside
Sunderland building are components of Czechoslovakia and have considerable
Colin Wilbourn, Karl Fisher and Craig Knowles Project which became part of the Art
this work. The steel tree stands on the international reputations for
(1997) stone, steel and mortar on the Riverside, the largest programme
actual base of a former shipyard crane pioneering work with glass.
A series of domestic components on and near the back wall of public art in the UK along the banks
and its giant shadow is captured in the
of the marina make up this piece. The small stool with a of the Rivers Tyne and Wear.
paving stretching towards the mouth 64 The Red House – keyhole enables the correct viewpoint to see the distorted
of the River Wear. Colin Wilbourn image carved into the wall come to life. 73 Men of Steel – Graeme Hopper
(1994) stone
(2001) steel
62 Pathways of Knowledge – Fragments of the house can be found
68 Windows and Walls – The steel men push boulders of coal
Colin Wilbourn along the first fifty yards of the riverside
Colin Wilbourn, Karl Fisher up the hill to pay homage to the
(1993) yellow sandstone path that stretches from the Glass
and Chaz Brenchley, generations of miners who worked
Located in front of the University library Centre to the marina. All carved from
(1996) brick in the Wearmouth Colliery where the
the sculpture makes a direct association the same red stone taken from the
The scenes are based on stories Stadium of Light now stands. The artist
with learning but also relates to the Queen Alexander Bridge further upriver.
depicting sea and country life, written said: “It represents man’s social
areas history with a relief carving of St. The St Peters Riverside Sculpture Project
by schoolchildren with the help of struggle and will to survive against the
Bede, and a mosaic inlay taken from an in Sunderland developed into one of
Brenchley. The panels are grouped into odds. The figures show purpose and
illuminated manuscript in the the longest running and best-known
six sets of four, each set illustrating a aims, they symbolise hope and
Scriptorium at St. Peter’s Church nearby. artist residencies in the Country during
story that is inscribed on small metal achievement.”
Historically St. Peter’s church has been the 1990’s.
an important centre of learning, and plates attached between them.
the sculpture celebrates the University’s
continuation of that tradition.
7
South Shields
Starting at the Customs House this route travels along the riverside to the
harbour and back along the Lawe Top. It is approximately 3.5 miles with
a gentle but fairly long slope from North Marine Park to the Lawe Top.
82 80 77 Spirit of South Shields – 84 Ferry Approach –
RIV Irene Brown (2000) bronze Bruce Mclean (2003) steel
Roman Fort ER
DR The ‘Spirit of South Shields’ harbours a Girders and brightly coloured steelwork
IV
79 E ship safely in one arm whilst raising her create a link through the 60’s
other arm in greeting. Standing on the architecture from the once industrial
end of the jetty looking out over the riverside to the market square.
river the ‘Spirit’ acts as a ships 80 Conversation Piece –
North figurehead for the town and echos the Juan Muñoz (1998) bronze
83 Marine 81 ‘ship’ image of the Victorian Town Hall. Renowned Spanish artist Juan Munoz (1953-2001) sited the
Park
figures that make up Conversation Piece temporarily in
Berwick upon Tweed as part of the celebrations for the 1996
South
77 OAD Marine Year of Visual Arts. The 22 part sculpture was cast in bronze
A NR
78 OCE Park and found a permanent home at the mouth of the Tyne in
South Shields and is a great favourite with visitors who
‘eavesdrop’ on the mysterious group of bronze figures.
Commenting on the strange appearance of the figures, Munoz
said: “laughter and pain are very close and I like the idea of
85 tragi-comedy. They look like rolling figures, like tumblers, and
76 84 they are about movement, but they can’t move”.
81 Monument to W. Wouldhave
75 85 Old Town Hall –
86 87 88 and H. Greathead –
n R. Farbridge (1890) stone Martin Richman (2002) lighting
74 The memorial was commissioned as The architectural lighting on the old town hall complements
the centrepiece of the new South the ‘Landing Lights’ artwork Richman completed for the
Shields Marine Parks. Both William nearby South Shields Ferry Landing.
Wouldhave (1751-1824) and Henry
74 Nautical Objects – Greathead (1757-c.1816) were
Matthew Jarratt (1995) steel involved in the development of the first 86 Monument to Queen Victoria –
Commissioned by South Tyneside lifeboat ‘Original’. The lifeboat ‘Tyne’ is Albert Toft (1913) bronze
Council these images are based on alongside the memorial. A depiction of the aged Queen in full
drawings made in the local ship repair royal regalia with orb and sceptre. On
yards by children from the local Ashley 82 Lawe Top Beacon (1932) either side of the statue are black-
Road Primary School, produced during painted figurative lampholders, in the
stone and brick
an artists residency at Tyne Dock form of female nudes representing
Engineering whose welders also made The Lawe Top Beacon was erected as a Night and Day. The Town Hall was built
78 Fleet – Irene Brown
the artwork. navigation aid in 1932 by John Turnbull between 1905 and 1910 in a time of
(2004) stainless steel and cost around £60. The beacon and great prosperity for the town the
The flooded dry dock at Market Dock is the arena for seven its twin companion set behind it on the sculptures which adorn it reflect this
75 Merchant Navy Memorial – highly polished stainless steel sculptures of nineteenth century other side of the road, replaced the with a mixture of local and national
Robert Olley (1990) bronze collier brigs. Irene Brown’s ‘Fleet’ has taken South Tyneside’s 18th Century structures. symbols.
The memorial depicts a sailor at the historic ship symbol and reclaimed it as a cultural icon for the
ships wheel and commemorates the new riverside.
region’s merchant seamen who have 83 Dolly Peel – Billy Gofton 87 Allegories of the Four Seasons –
been lost during wartime. President of (1987) concrete fondu J.G. Binney (1910) stone
79 Hand – David Gross Dolly Peel is shown holding a basket, The life-size female figures are situated
the National Union of Seamen, Jim
(1998) wood and steel with a fish lying at her feet and at each corner of the Town Hall clock
Slater first proposed the memorial in
The Hand was designed in laughing. The fishwives of Tynemouth tower between buttressed ionic
1988 and a plaque dedicated to him is
collaboration with pupils from St. Peter have a special place in local history and columns.
set in the pavement behind.
and St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Primary it was felt that there was no adequate
School with wood reclaimed from memorial to them in South Shields. This
76 Landing Lights – demolition of a shipyard. 88 Personifications of South
sculpture of Dolly was commissioned by
Martin Richman (2003) lighting her distant relative Reg Peel, and Shields, Industry, Arts, Crafts
When Nexus began to develop a new according to her history, Dorothy (Dolly) and Labour – J.G. Binney
passenger ferry landing for South Shields, Peel was a South Shields fishwife and (1910) stone
it linked with Art on the Riverside to smuggler in the early 1900s. There are Integral to the building’s design, on the
commission artist Martin Richmond to numerous stories about how she pedestals of the columns either side of
produce a series of creative lighting helped men evade press gangs, the entrance, these finely carved reliefs
solutions that have now transformed the eventually going to sea with her illustrate the relationship of the
structure of the Bascule Bridge. husband where she worked as a nurse. borough to a well-ordered life of
industry, commerce and education.
8 9
Royal Quays North Shields
This is a circular route of approximately 2 miles The route is approximately 1.7 miles with a moderate
starting at the Royal Quays outlet-shopping arcade. incline and a considerable number of steps to the quayside.
There is a long but gentle slope.
90 The Tide is Turning – Short
D MA Sands
Linda France and Alec Peever DR
OA NO
RR
Leisure AR OA
Pool (1994) stone and stainless steel DW D
GE
In the pond formed between the top KIN Priory
two weirs there are the words ‘The 99 Castle
Tide is Turning’, they are a continuation
90 of the text along the opposite wall.
Royal
Quays The text comes from a collaboration
between Linda France and local women’s
groups and was commissioned in the
early phase of the rivers regeneration.
D 98
ROA
91 OU
TH
Leisure 91 Sea Dreamer’s Rest – EM
Marina
92 TYN
89 Pool Gilly Rogers
93 (1998) steel, resin, clay pipes,
Arcade
white feathers and bronze o
Sea Dreamers Rest is the title given to
a series of resin blocks set into the top
rim of two old capstans at either end
of the pier and two pairs of bronze
shoes that are placed outside of the
railings at either end of the pier. The 97
seaward capstan has white feathers set
in the resin and a man’s shoes, the 96 Fish
inland facing capstan having clay pipes 95 Quay
in the resin and a woman’s shoes over
the railings.
94
92 Tyne Anew – Mark Di Suvero
(1999) painted steel 94 Wooden Dolly – 97 Dolphin Mooring Post –
The V-shaped structure balances on a Martyn and Jane Grubb Northern Freeform
tripod and moves in the wind like a (1992) Oak wood (1993) timber, brick and metal
weather vane creating a clear A Wooden Dolly figurehead has stood The sculptured mooring post based on
association to the cranes that once in this spot since the early 1800s, when the staithes that are used in the Tyne
lined the banks of the Tyne. Tyne Anew the figurehead from the collier brig that takes its name from the pub next
was built by the artist in New York 'Alexander and Margaret' was placed to it. A bronze shag sits drying its
After an initial visit to the site, he said here after being attacked and ransomed wings on top.
of Tyne Anew: “In the scheme of in 1781 on the north east coast.
things I build these pieces so that
98 Monument to Admiral Lord
people can have an expansion of their
95 Naters Bank Seascape – Collingwood – John Graham
spirit….You get to see certain sites and
they really are glorious. This is one of Maggie Howarth (1987) Lough (1845) stone
them. It's a worker’s site and it appeals stone, concrete and ceramics Cuthbert Collingwood (1748-1810) was
to me because I live by a river, the East Commissioned by North Tyneside born in Newcastle, he joined the Navy at
River in New York’. Council as part of the regeneration of the age of thirteen and later distinguished
the Fish Quay area it was created by himself at the battle of Trafalgar where he
the locally-based Northern Freeform was Nelson’s second-in command. He
93 Dudes – Permindar Kaur artists’ collective, with Howarth in the was rewarded with a peerage for his
89 Lightening Clock – Andy Plant (2001) (2003) powder coated steel lead role, this landscape sculpture ‘valour, judgement and skill’. He died at
copper, stainless steel, cast iron and fibreglass Kaur intended the figures being placed in incorporates smaller mosaic fish which sea and was given a state funeral and a
Two beaten copper spheres are fixed to a steel lightning bolt the Port of Tyne to encourage thought were made by local school children. monument in St Paul’s.
that is hitting the ground. Meteorological instruments are set about the historical significance of ports
into the base and it stands at over 30ft tall. The smaller as points of departure and entry to new
nations. The artist said: “The Port of Tyne 96 Stan Laurel – Robert Olley 99 Monument to Queen Victoria –
sphere with a lone figure balanced on top forms the actual (1992) fibreglass Alfred Turner (1902) bronze
clock. On the hour there are crashes of thunder and the large is an ideal location for the work. I hope
the work makes people stop and think Stan Laurel (1890-1965) was born Depicting the Queen in the twilight
sphere begins to rotate. Wind and smoke lift the small figure Arthur Stanley Jefferson in Lancashire years of her reign, the statue was a
off his feet and he has to cling on. As the hour passes, the about ports, their cultural significance -
as a point of entry into another country, and lived in the original 8 Dockwray second cast from the mould used for
wind dies down and the figure returns to his feet. Square, North Shields from 1897 to Turner’s monument to the Queen in
or continent – as well as their historic
significance”. 1901. Delhi, India.
To Gateshead
To Newcastle
A1 (M)
A167
To Birtley
Angel of the North –
Antony Gormley
(1998) Corten steel
The Angel of the North stands on a
panoramic hilltop which was formerly a
colliery site synonymous with
Gatesheads’ mining history.The sculpture
is taller than 4 double decker buses, seen
by more than 90,000 drivers a day on the
A1 – more than one person every second
– and is believed to be the largest angel
sculpture in the world.
In 2006 the Angel of the North was voted
one of the 12 official ‘Icons of England’.
about art
For more information on the Regional Image Strategy visit: www.northeastengland.co.uk