Life-Size Corten Steel Figurative Sculpture
Corten steel and mild steel
Life-size figurative sculpture
Kirton in Lindsey, North Lincolnshire
Similar bespoke commissions from £20,000
Grandad’s Plough is a life-size figurative sculpture created for Kirton in Lindsey, North Lincolnshire, as part of a permanent landmark celebrating the town’s agricultural heritage.
The sculpture depicts a farmer working behind a traditional plough, but rather than reproducing the human figure literally, the form is reduced to strong, expressive planes of steel. The result sits between figuration and abstraction: recognisably human from a distance, while closer viewing reveals the construction, negative spaces and individual pieces of metal from which the figure is formed.
This simplified approach gives the sculpture a sense of movement and physical effort while allowing the surrounding landscape, sky and architecture to remain visible through the composition.
Material, form and landscape
Constructed from Corten steel and 5 mm mild steel, the sculpture was designed to have a robust physical presence appropriate to its outdoor setting.
The warm, weathered character of the steel complements the agricultural subject and gives the artwork a sense of permanence and connection to the landscape. As conditions and viewpoints change, light catches different planes of the figure, continually altering its silhouette and surface.
At life size, the work retains a human connection while still having sufficient presence to function as a landmark within its setting.
Sculpture that tells the story of a place
Grandad’s Plough demonstrates how a familiar aspect of local history can be transformed into a distinctive contemporary artwork.
The wider monument celebrates Kirton in Lindsey’s long association with agriculture, and has become part of the visual identity of the town.
This type of commission is particularly suited to locations where an artwork needs to communicate something meaningful about people, heritage, industry or place rather than functioning purely as decoration.
For businesses and private clients, the same approach can be used to develop sculpture around a company’s history, a family story, an important individual, a profession or a connection to a particular landscape.
Bespoke figurative sculpture commissions
I create site-specific figurative sculpture for private collectors, businesses, property developers, hospitality destinations, estates, schools, local authorities and public spaces.
Each commission is individually developed around its setting and story. Scale, posture, materials and level of abstraction can all be adapted to create a work that feels specific to the client rather than a reproduction of an existing sculpture.
Works can be created as standalone landscape sculptures, incorporated into architectural settings or developed as part of a wider entrance, memorial or placemaking project.
Similar life-size bespoke commissions currently start from approximately £20,000, with larger and more complex projects priced according to scale, materials, engineering, foundations and installation requirements.
To discuss a figurative sculpture for a private collection, business, development or public space, please contact James Sutton Sculpture.