Kirkby Lonsdale: Andrew Kay gifts ram sculpture to town

Andrew Kay creates lifesize sculptures from solid mild steel using pre-WWII hydraulic presses and his creations can be seen throughout the world.

Some examples being a commemorative piece of dray wagon being pulled by two magnificent shire horses for Thwaites brewery’s headquarters and a watchful stag and an alert hind overlooking the whole Sierre mountain range for boutique hotel Chetzeron.

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He draws inspiration from the natural world for his art that manages to embody the powerful anatomy and essence of wild beasts with deceptively simple form and structure.

This is influenced by Scandinavia, which he toured extensively on a travel scholarship before becoming a set designer for The Franz Kafka Theatre in Prague.

Upon returning to England, he established Beckside Studio near Kirkby Lonsdale in 1994.

He works in a team of four alongside his wife Anneley, Tilly Mills and Kurt von Rugemer.

His gift to Kirkby Lonsdale, which weighs 600kg, will sit on a 10-tonne stone plinth in middle of the roundabout on the A65 close to Booths supermarket.

The stone for the plinth was donated by Heidelberg quarries at Ingleton.

The project has had support from several public figures have helped push it forward including Allan Muirhead BEM, Councillor Mike Marczynski and Councillor Robin Ree.

The stone provided by Heidelberg quarries at Ingleton. (Image: Andrew Kay) Andy said: “It’s taken around three years to get to this point in terms of permissions from the council and the Highways Agency and one month to make.

“The sculpture is really about giving something back to the town, particularly at this time after the tragic fire in December.

“When I first started my business, the town was really good to me.

“There are three reasons I chose a ram; one because of the historic connection; the town has old drovers’ roads which farmers used to bring their hill rams and sheep to the town’s livestock market.

The sculpture being worked on at Beckside Studio (Image: Andrew Kay) “Two; the ram is the bastion of Kirkby Lonsdale Rugby Club and three; we’re three miles from the Yorkshire Dales’ border whose national park authority has a ram’s head on its logo.

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“I want the sculpture to be captivating to anyone who sees it and for it to be a symbol of strength and re-generation.”

“The roundabout seemed appropriate as it is the gateway into Kirkby Lonsdale and up to The Lakes and south to The Dales.”

The sculpture is set to be installed at the roundabout within the next few weeks.