A major arts event that will bring a month of sculpture and art to the Surrey Hills, will open to the public from Saturday 4th May until Sunday 2nd June at the Birtley Estate in Bramley, near Guildford. Staged by Surrey Hills Enterprises in partnership with the Surrey Sculpture Society, the event celebrates the stunning Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and showcases local sculptors and artists and the enjoyment of experiencing art within a natural setting

The Surrey Hills Sculpture Trail and Arts Festival will feature the largest ephemeral Sculpture Trail in Surrey, with a fresh and dynamic range of sculptures from talented artists from the Surrey Sculpture Society. The 180 new sculptures will be set within the stunning landscape of woodlands, meadows and lakeside. A marquee located on the lakeside meadow will also hold an indoor exhibition and café that will provide a base for visitors during the day. Visitors to the event will also be able to enjoy a range of workshops and demonstrations as part of the Surrey Sculpture Society’s ‘Understanding Sculpture’ programme of events, plus other arts and crafts demonstrations from Surrey Hills Enterprises members.

Cream teas and light refreshments, profiling local food and drink, will also be part of the event. Visitors can also bring picnics and enjoy the art and inspiring sculptures in the beautiful landscape, which also features woodland and lakeside walks. Simon Whalley, Chairman of Surrey Hills Enterprises, a Community Interest Company, commented: ‘Last year’s event proved to be a great day out for families and groups of friends and attracted an additional 25% footfall on the previous year. Surrey has such a strong history of art and culture and we are hoping to attract even more visitors this year. We will have an inspiring range of new sculptures, a woodland trail, courses and demonstrations, with tickets enabling visitors to return as often as they like throughout the exhibition’

It is an important year for the Surrey Sculpture Society as it will be the organisation’s 25th Anniversary and their emerging and professional sculptors have been busy creating over 180 sculptures for the Society’s first event of this special year. Henriette Van der Does, Chair of the Surrey Sculpture Society commented: ‘We are very excited to organise the Surrey Hills Sculpture Garden again, the first major exhibition on the SSS calendar during its 25th Anniversary year. The gardens at the Birtley Estate are wonderfully suited to accommodate the varied creative output of our members, offering sweeping lawns, intimate wall spaces, formal gardens and an orchard.’

Exhibition manager and SSS member, Diana Pattenden commented: ‘The quality, range in subject and materials of the sculptures that will be on display is amazing. Visitors will see bronzes, both foundry and cold-cast bronze resin, welded metal, ceramic, wood, glass and stone carvings in a range of sizes. Signature pieces like the Inner Tree by Teresa Martin will stop you in your tracks.

Alison Catchlove uses small pieces of metal welded and coloured to form exquisite sculptures like a hummingbird hovering. ‘Classic figurative work shows great knowledge of the human and animal forms that have inspired artists through history. Quirky humorous pieces will bring a wry smile. If like me you have visited the sculpture trail every year for the last decade or more, you’ll know that the experience is very life enhancing. It’s a great opportunity to spend a day with friends. Whether or not you are building your collection or buying for the first time, one thing that will happen is that you will be transformed and take away a memory of beautiful, intriguing and well crafted sculpture that is pure poetry in form.’

Demonstrations and Workshops

There will be a comprehensive range of demonstrations and workshops as part of the Surrey Sculpture Society’s ‘Understanding Sculpture’ programme, which will include: ‘Workshops for all Ages’ by Lynnette Merrick ‘Clay Heads’ with Katie Netley, ‘Demonstrations of Sculpture Making’ by Astra Kalpokaite Golias ‘Creating a Sculpture with a Chainsaw’ by Friedel Buecking. Plus a wide range of additional Arts and Crafts Demonstrations from Surrey Hills Enterprises members.

Supporting Local Food and Drinks Producers

Cream teas and light refreshments, profiling local food and drink, will also be part of the event or visitors can bring picnics and enjoy the beautiful landscape and inspiring sculptures.

This unique event also allows visitors who have bought tickets to use the tickets to return to and gain free access to the event on another day.

Dates: Saturday 4th May to Sunday 2nd June

Venue information: Birtley Estate, Bramley, Guildford GU5 0LB

Times: Open from 10am – 4.30pm daily.

Find out more visit: www.surreyhills.org/events/surrey-hills-sculpture-garden-arts-festival-2019/

Tel: 01483 661150

Cost: BOOK AHEAD: £7 in advance or £8 on the day – you don’t have to specify the day and the tickets allow unlimited re-entry over the month Under 12’s FREE / Parking FREE Tickets available from Guildford Tourist Information Centre 01483 444334 155 High Street, Guildford GU1 3AJ www.tickets.visitguildford.com For more on the SSS visit www.surreysculpture.org.uk