LANDSCAPING SERVICES
SIMON GUDGEON
OUTDOOR SCULPTURE
Choosing sculpture The choice of a sculpture is a deeply personal one and should be led by the innate response of the viewer to a piece . Simon ’ s ideas take months , even years , to form in his mind , so he never takes commissions – believing that the work of an artist creating what they want will always be far superior to something they ’ re paid to produce .
An incredible piece of art has the power to transform a space , be that a public park , a home , or , perhaps especially , a garden .
Sculpture enhances the environment in a different way to planting . More than just a focal point or an element of interest , a wellchosen , well-placed piece can invoke a mood , and alter the energy and experience . It can inspire emotion , spark contemplation and reflection , and crucially add beauty .
Simon Gudgeon , one of Britain ’ s leading contemporary sculptors , has won international acclaim for creating sculptures which do just that . With their signature smooth style , his pared-back , elegant forms are favoured by Royalty and rock stars alike , and his work is soughtafter by private collectors and displayed in high-profile public spaces around the world .
Having grown up on his family farm in the Yorkshire countryside , nature has always been a source of inspiration for Simon . He has often favoured the shape , form and movement of birds , but his work spans styles - from figurative to abstract to kinetic , and varies in scale from gallery pieces to monumental works .
Simon ’ s giant abstract bird sculptures are particularly well known . His 3m-tall bronze ‘ Isis ’, for example , was the first sculpture to be installed in London ’ s Hyde Park in 50 years , while another casting is at America ’ s National Museum of Wildlife Art in Wyoming . Two of his sculptures feature outside the Cirque du Soleil International Headquarters in Montreal , Canada , and three are installed at London ’ s most exclusive and luxurious address - One Hyde Park .
What unites Simon ’ s work , and is embodied in every piece , is his core belief that sculpture must above all else be a thing of beauty ; it must uplift the spirit and enhance its surroundings . On a deeper level it must connect with the viewer , stirring their senses and appealing to their emotions in a visceral way . This is the nature of Simon ’ s work .
And , rather than a gallery or museum , Simon believes it is important to experience large and monumental sculptures in a setting where they are at scale with their surroundings , and their power is undiminished . For the past decade he has developed an extraordinary 26-acre sculpture park at his Dorset home , where a collection of his work can be viewed and is available to purchase . Here , under the open skies , viewers and potential buyers can appreciate the unique character of outdoor sculpture as an ever-changing event , both transforming the landscape , and part of it - altering with the seasons , the weather , the time of day , the differing light , and the passage of time .
Sculptures are not the only nonorganic element to enhance a garden . Drawing inspiration from Sculpture by the Lakes , Simon has also developed Studio Gudgeon . This is a range of functional artwork , including benches and hanging seats , fire bowls , gates and fencing , designed to elevate private garden spaces in the same way as Simon has his sculpture park , turning Sculpture by the Lakes into a work of art in its own right . It is the perfect place to appreciate how sculptural forms can enhance the landscape , and an ideal source of inspiration for anyone looking to transform a garden or any outdoor space .
Discover Simon Gudgeon at www . simongudgeon . com or visit
Sculpture by the Lakes . Private viewings available by appointment .
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