In a tribute to Black Beauty author Anna Sewell, a life-sized fibreglass horse sculpture is being painted in Great Yarmouth, the town where Sewell was born. The equestrian artwork, created by Scotland-based artist Lois Cordelia, will be on display in the town’s market place until Thursday as part of the Great Yarmouth Arts Festival.
The sculpture is one of 11 pieces funded by the UK Government’s Town Deal Fund, and will join a public art trail in the town center. The project, costing £330,000, coincides with significant investments in Great Yarmouth, including the redevelopment of the market area and the transformation of a former department store into a new library and learning campus.
Anna Sewell, born in 1820 in a house across from the market place, is honored through this unique artwork, which Cordelia has designed to feature equine imagery, portraits of Sewell, and depictions of her hometown. “The horse will be covered in imagery connected with her life and legacy,” said Cordelia. She expressed her excitement about the public’s reaction to the project, saying, “It’s amazing hearing people’s comments as they pass by. A lot of them say, ‘Is that a real horse?’”
Many people have shared fond memories of Black Beauty, with Cordelia noting, “It was one of those pioneering moments in literature, being told from the perspective of an animal, which was groundbreaking at the time.”
Another sculpture in the project pays tribute to Great Yarmouth-born artist Ernie Childs. Sculptor Mark Goldsworthy is creating Yarn with Ernie, a statue of a figure wearing Childs’ signature fisherman’s smock and holding a paintbrush. Goldsworthy aims to honor the town’s rich history and colorful characters, saying, “I hope this will be a lasting legacy for locals and visitors alike.”
Carl Smith, leader of the Conservative council, expressed pride in the project, saying, “We’re thrilled to have received government funding to bring these fantastic new additions to our town. The sculptures enhance our public spaces and improve our tourism offer, with a wide range of artistic contributions that will resonate with our community.”
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