Northern Design Scene: Yorkshire Sculpture Park

With the BCFA Manchester Open fast approaching we have decided to create a collection of articles focusing on the design scene in the north. Generally, people believe that London is the hub of creativity in the UK but we would like to debunk that theory.

On a sunny day in July, I took a trip to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) – A open-air gallery in Wakefield that is described as “Probably the finest exhibition site for sculpture in the world.”

YSP is located on a 500-acre estate and there are over 80 sculptures to see in the open-air spaces set against a lush and green landscape. There are also some more conventional galleries; The Garden, Bothy and Underground galleries can be found on the northern side of the park.

Tony Cragg: A rare category of objects

While I visited, the prime exhibit was the work of Tony Cragg. Cragg was born in Liverpool in 1949 and he has created an award-winning portfolio over the last 40 years. YSP had a fascinating display that featured his work in both the indoor and outside spaces. There was a great mixture of his work, from his early career spanning to some of his most recent work, that really showed off his pioneering mastery of materials. (There was even a piece made of dice!)

Cragg works in 3D form and his pieces should be appreciated ‘in the round’, from all angles. Take a peak at a few highlights from the exhibition below, but to fully immerse yourself into his work, you must visit the park in person. The Tony Cragg: A rare category of objects runs until September 3rd.

YSP Highlights

After admiring Craggs work, I was able to take some time to look around at a few of the other sculpted masterpieces on the estate. There is a large lake that beautifully splits the park in two, which the River Dearne runs beside. YSP is a wonderful day out, but be prepared to do a lot of walking if you want to get round and see everything! Walking through the large, green meadows and hidden woodland areas, there are surprises around every corner.

I found the experience quite inspiring and having not been to YSP before and arriving on such a beautiful day, I really got the best and most out of my day at the park. Check out a few of my highlights from the park below.

To attend the Manchester Open visit manchester.bcfaopen.com and register for your free ticket today.