It’s been over two years since Simon O’Rourke installed the new sculpture trail in Fforest Fawr. Simon has shared his initial sketches for the carvings and I take a look at how the sculptures have changed.
When I spoke to Simon during the installation he explained that the sculptures would change colour quite dramatically over time. Back in 2018 the wood was quite a bright pink but just a year later the sculptures had darkened and blended into the woodland setting.
This article was originally published on Tongwynlais.com.
Most of the sculptures ended up looking very close to Simon’s original sketches.
Here are a few more of the original designs.
© Simon O’Rourke 
© Simon O’Rourke 
© Simon O’Rourke 
© Simon O’Rourke 
© Simon O’Rourke
The beautiful red deer is the only sculpture that’s significantly different from the concept art. Sadly, the red deer has suffered quite a bit of damage to its antlers since that photo was taken.
The sculptures looks fantastic with their intricate detail and rich colours. It’s great to see visitors enjoying the trail and it puts a smile on my face every time I visit the forest.
Massive thanks to Simon for letting me share his images.
