Each installation reflects the unique natural characteristics of its locations

A major public sculpture trail stretching across Kent and Surrey has been completed.

The final installation of the North Downs Way Art Trail is now in place, completing a staggering collection of nine (9) giant sculptures along the 153mile national trail.

A joint venture led by Kent Downs AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) in partnership Surrey Hills Arts, the Art Trail is a glorious open-air gallery along one of the most popular walking trails in the country and gives people even more reason to head out into the countryside on foot, on two wheels or on horseback.

Free and open to all, the nine sculptures have been installed in stages in Surrey and Kent between 2020 and 2023 by artists including Charles Holland and INSTAR.

Each installation reflects the unique natural characteristics of its locations, incorporating sustainable local material in the designs such as apple crates and coppiced wood, as well as local stories, poems, and designs from the surrounding communities.

They have a dual function as both sculptural seats where people can rest and soak up the scenery, and as monuments celebrating the surrounding communities and heritage.

The final artwork, Coppice Oratory in the King’s Wood in Kent, was unveiled on 18th March 2023.

The 9 artworks are:

1. Optohedron by Will Nash (Guildford, Surrey)

2. Radius by James Tunnard (Dorking, Surrey)

3. Coccolith by INSTAR (Guildford, Surrey)

4. Coppice Oratory by Tchonova + La Roi (Godmersham, Kent)

5. Feel Our Voice by Kezia Cole (Chilham, Kent)

6. Sedile Francigena by Polysemic! (Womenswold, Kent)

7. After the Black Gold by Channel (Womenswold, Kent)

8. Monumenta Romana by Charles Holland Architects (Shepherdswell, Kent)

9. We are all Winners by Alma Tischlerwood (Dover, Kent)

Radius by James Tunnard - Imge by John Miller

The art trail has been supported by around £150,000 of European Union Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Interreg France (Channel) England Programme for the Kent Downs AONB. A supporting campaign, the Great ARTDoors, has been launched as part of the organisation’s commitment to encouraging more people to experience the beauty and the history of the North Downs Way.

Peter Morris, North Downs Way Trail Manager, said: “The North Downs Way Art Trail is a fantastic addition to the North Downs Way. We have created an open-air gallery for the public, which has been designed to add to the overall experience of our national trail and promote its special characteristics, whilst also bringing art to an audience who might not normally step into a typical museum space. 

“It is really exciting to introduce a new way of exploring and discovering our trail to people across the country. We encourage visitors to enjoy the landscape, the art works, and surrounding areas all year round and to enjoy the new perspectives that the different seasons bring.

“The art trail can be explored in sections, and you do not need to be a die-hard rambler or hiking enthusiast to enjoy it!”

The North Downs Way stretches 153miles from Farnham in Surrey to Dover in Kent, and incorporates the famous Pilgrims Way used by millions of ancient and modern pilgrims for centuries. Mini-itineraries for each public sculpture on the art trail have been created on the Kent Downs AONB website to make it easy for people to visit the artworks and enjoy experiences in the surrounding areas on a day out.

The artists behind Coppice Oratory, Simone Tchonova + Matthijs la Roi, added: “Coppice Oratory is a space composed of hundreds of sweet chestnut coppice poles grown in King’s Wood. The natural variations of each chestnut pole as found in the forest is celebrated for their differences. The poles have come together one by one to form a place of rest and mark the first sighting of Canterbury Cathedral along the ancient Pilgrim’s Way.

“We are proud to be a part of creating the North Downs Way Art Trail as all art should be fully free for everyone to access as are the public footpaths.”