Public Art

" The Grouse "

Not all of Beltane Studio's sculpture is in bronze . This 4.75m tall bird on top of its 8m perch is in galvanised steel.

Situated on the Broxden Roundabout , Perth this sculpture was commissioned by the Edrington Group ( Distillers of The Famous Grouse whisky ) and gifted by them to the City of Perth to mark their 800 year anniversary celebrations .

The bird itself is fabricated in 16mm diameter steel rod all bent to shape by hand and welded in to place . sections of plate were cut to provide the details at the tips of the wing and tail feathers .

The design process began with a detailed ornithological study followed by plasticine maquettes all working towards a quarter scale wire maquette that was used to scale up to the full sized sculpture .

Due to the size constraints both of the foundry and of the capacity of the UK's largest galvanising tank the wings had to be fabricated separately . The first time Iomhar and Ruaraig saw the complete full size sculpture was the day before it was hoisted into place . Fortunately everything fitted as it should .

The Grouse is now a well known landmark and is regarded fondly by the supporters of St Johnston Football Club who recently decorated it in the club colours when the team played in the Scottish Cup final .

The clay in progress showing the armature

Final Touches at the foundry

Models Fionnlagh and Rohaise Maciver meet themselves

The Return From Hornshole

Bronze sculptural group , High Street , Hawick

Commissioned by the Hawick Common Riding Committee to mark the 500th anniversary of The Battle Of Hornshole.

This battle took place in 1514 only a year after the disaster at Flodden Field . English raiding parties were ravaging the Borderlands safe in the knowledge that with the loss of nearly every man of fighting age in the area they were quite safe .

Such a raiding party was spotted at Hornshole but instead of hiding behind the town walls a band of the youth of Hawick sallied forth and routed the invaders capturing the flag of the Bishop of Durham as they fled.

This sculptural group tells the story of the handing over of the flag to the Town Elders .

The story of the Battle of Hornshole is the pride of Hawick and it takes centre stage during the town's famous Common Riding each Year . William Beattie's magnificent equestrian sculpture was commissioned to mark the battles' 400th anniversary . It was a huge honour for Iomhar and Ruaraig to be trusted with this job .

Following its unveiling ( a night not to be forgotten ) the sculpture has taken its place in the annual ceremonies with the Callant Bussing the Colours on the flag on the morning of the big day .

Gathering for the unveiling in this beautiful place

Unveiling , fittingly by the RNLI

Looking for returning boats

Fisheries Memorial

Cairnbulg and Inverallochy , Aberdeenshire

Cairnbulg and Inverallochy are conjoined fishing villages on the Aberdeenshire coast just outside Fraserburgh right on the point of the headland jutting out into the North Sea .

This is where the highest wind speed on the British Mainland was ever recorded . Needless to say the fisheries of the villages have suffered heavy losses over the years .

The local people wanted to mark their joint heritage with a suitable memorial . It was decided what form it should take and Beltane Studios were asked to carry out the work .

It was a huge pleasure for Iomhar and Ruaraig to work with the people of the villages on this project particularly as their Mother's people came from a very similar community at Latheronwheel just up the coast .

The portrait of Bill McLaren with his wife , Bette

The Voice of Rugby

Wilton Lodge Park , Hawick

There is no greater responsibility for a sculptor in this part of Scotland than to be asked to make the portrait of " The Voice of Rugby " Bill McLaren .

Ruaraig knew he'd got it right when an old teammate of Bill's when visiting the foundry walked up to the finished clay and quietly said " Hello Bill "

All the sculptures in this section are by Ruaraig Maciver and were cast or fabricated by Beltane Studios Ltd.