Sculptor describes his vision for Wainwright tribute (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Sculptor describes his vision for Wainwright tribute

11:02am Thursday 5th March 2009 in

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A SCULPTOR hotly tipped to create a lasting tribute to the nation’s favourite fell walker has revealed his artistic intentions and inspiration for the controversial project.

Graham Ibbeson, who created the celebrated statues of Eric Morecambe in Morecambe and Laurel and Hardy in Ulverston, plans to depict Alfred Wainwright in his “archetypal pose” –sat on a rock with his pipe, looking out over the landscape he loved.

“Wainwright was an artist himself and I want to convey that, but, as a sculptor, what you really need to do is convey the character of a person,” he said. “You need to capture their essence and Wainwright was a man who cherished the landscape and was very aware of what was around him. He was honest about his experiences.”

The plan to commission a bronze statue of the famous Kendalian, who penned the legendary Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells, were first revealed in The Westmorland Gazette last month.

Since then, its location, creator and very notion have been subject to great debate, with many arguing that Wainwright would have opposed the idea.

The question of whether the finished piece should be installed in Kendal town centre or out of the fells has also divided opinion.

See this week's The Westmorland Gazette for further details.