The Kelpies

Forth & Clyde Canal

These two maquettes are one-tenth scale sculptures of a proposed landmark feature of The Helix on the Forth & Clyde Canal near Falkirk in central Scotland. They will form part of an innovative “displacement lock” boat lift system which will bring vessels into the central Scotland canal network and the innovative Helix environmental regeneration scheme.

It is a speculative project at this stage. Andy volunteered to create these two scale maquettes without a fee, in order to demonstrate more fully the ideas behind the proposal to the public, to the associated project partners, and to the U.K. National Lottery assesssors, whom it is hoped will fund the project.

The sculptures, based on mythical Scottish sea horses, will reach a staggering 30 metres in height if completed at full scale and will be a major landmark for The Helix, Scotland and the U.K.

The two colossal horse heads will each dip and raise through a five metre span, displacing thousands of tons of water to enable the boat lift mechanism. They will be a major civil engineering project and will involve a partnership of engineers, fabrication companies, transportation and logistics, project managers and a multitude of others, including Andy of course, as originator of the idea.

Kelpie Model 117

However...

If The Helix project does not achieve its funding objectives, then these sculptures will be Andy’s to exhibit and sell to prospective clients… so watch this space for further developments of The Kelpies.