The Yorkshire Coast Bid have expanded the coastal sculpture collection, by welcoming the stunning Wykeham Damselfly to its new home at North Yorkshire Water Park, Scarborough.
Designed by local Yorkshire artist, Emma Stothard, the Damselfly is the second sculpture to be added to the collection, following in the footsteps of the first addition, the Green Hairstreak Butterfly, which can be found at Spurn Point.
The Wykeham Damselfly, along with around 50 other animal species, such as chubb, roach, rudd, and perch, can be spotted throughout the year around the lakes of North Yorkshire Water Park. Taking in inspirations from her surroundings, Emma wanted to represent the area the best she could which led to designing the second sculpture – the Wykeham Damselfly.
The female ‘Beautiful Demoiselle’ can be recognised by its verdigris green body with pale, brown wings, differing from that of the males which is identified by their electric blue bodies and dark wings. Due to its delicate features and subtle colors, the damselfly is a remarkable species, Emma, had to ensure the materials used for the sculpture portrayed this correctly.
The body, head and tail have been designed using copper wire as overtime, the patina turns a lovely verdigris green representing the true colors of the Beautiful Demoiselle. To portray the wings correctly, Emma hand-made them by using a stainless-steel round bar before being methodically woven in phosphorus bronze wire, which in turn will develop into a soft brown over time.
Speaking on the design of the sculpture, Emma Stothard, said: “It has been such a delight designing the coastal sculpture collection, which I’m sure will attract many visitors to the park. The Wykeham Damselfly itself is such a beautiful species, with delicate, unique features, so I was super excited to try and replicate this in sculpture form.
“The Wykeham Damselfly has been such a pleasure to create, and I can’t wait for everyone to see more of the Coastal Sculpture Collection.”
Speaking with Kerry Carruthers, the CEO of Yorkshire Coast Bid, she said: “This project is really important as it’s not just about bringing in visitors to the area, it’s about celebrating all the beautiful nature and wildlife that can be seen here as well.
“Having these sculptures located across the Yorkshire Coast tells visitors a story about what can be seen here, as well as giving them another reason to come visit. There are many more sculptures to come in different locations across the coast and we can’t wait to see the final project.”
Operations Manager of North Yorkshire Water Park, James Whitehead, spoke about the instalment of the Wykeham Damselfly, commenting: “The visitors here at North Yorkshire Water Park are guaranteed to love the Wykeham Damselfly, not only does it look amazing, but it teaches people about the area and the wildlife located here.
“As well as the many activities that take place at North Yorkshire Water Park, we have many people who visit to make use of the spectacular surroundings, whether that be for a dog walk or run or more. Adding this sculpture to the route around the lake will grab lots of attention and I can’t wait to see the whole collection once complete.”
The Coastal Sculpture Collection consists of a group of unique sculptures placed in a variety of locations across the Yorkshire Coast for people to visit and educate themselves. Each sculpture has been designed to represent the area it’s located within, offering a chance to learn about the wildlife, history and culture of the Yorkshire Coast.
The collection, creates marker points throughout Route YC and new coastal route made up of a series of adventure filled itineraries, that will take visitors from Yorkshires very own Lands’ End in the South through to smuggler coves and quaint fishing villages in the North. Not only will people be able to admire this wonderful collection, it also supports Yorkshire Coast BID’s objective of protecting wild and marine life throughout the area, by raising awareness.
To find out more about the Yorkshire Coast BID, please visit;
