Sculptpedia Statues, Busts and Sculptures Park sculptures and installations Ancient World & Antiquity Middle Ages & Renaissance Marble & Other Stones Bronze & Other Metals

The Kelpies

The Kelpies are a 30-meter contemporary sculpture near Edinburgh, between Falkirk and Grangemouth, in The Helix park in Scotland. Weighing about 300 tons, the work depicts two horse heads and is among the largest horse sculptures in the world. Designed by sculptor Andy Scott and completed in October 2013, it was conceived as part of a park project first proposed in 2003. The sculptures represent kelpies, mythical Celtic water horses said to haunt Scottish rivers and lakes, and were modeled on heavy Scottish horses. They form a gateway at the eastern entrance to the Forth and Clyde Canal extension within The Helix development.

The Kelpies horse head sculptures beside water under a blue sky with clouds.
The Kelpies rise above the water on a clear day, with one horse head facing forward and the other angled upward.
June 2016 © James Allan · CC BY-SA 2.0
The Kelpies metal horse-head sculptures rising above a grassy field, with visitors near the base for scale.
The Kelpies tower over a grassy area in central Scotland, with their intricate metal construction visible up close.
June 2015 © · CC BY 2.0
The Kelpies horse head sculptures beside calm water under a cloudy sky.
The Kelpies rise beside still water beneath an overcast sky.
© · CC BY 2.0
The Kelpies horse head sculpture rising against a dark sky in black and white.
The Kelpies sculpture photographed in black and white, showing the towering horse head and neck.
© · CC BY 2.0
A large grey metal sculpture under construction with a worker in a blue boom lift nearby and power lines overhead.
The Kelpies under construction, seen with a worker in a boom lift nearby.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0

Identification

TitleThe Kelpies
TypeA pair of monumental steel horse-head sculptures

Iconography and meaning

Depicted subjectKelpies, mythological water spirits or shape-shifting water horses associated with horses
Name originNamed after the kelpies of Scottish and Irish folklore
Historical roles representedPulled wagons, ploughs, barges, and coal ships
MeaningCelebrates the role of horses in Scotland's industry, agriculture, and canal transport, and the region's industrial and agricultural heritage
InspirationInspired by Clydesdale draught horses and heavy Scottish horses

Physical characteristics

Number of sculptures2
Height30 metres each
WeightAbout 300 tons each

Materials

MaterialStructural steel with stainless steel cladding
Surface treatmentHot-dip galvanized stainless steel plates

Technique

Construction methodBuilt around a steel framework and hand-welded from thousands of small steel plates
Fabrication methodThree-metre maquettes were laser-scanned to help fabricate the full-scale components

Creator

DesignerAndy Scott

Historical context

Public opening21 April 2014
Construction start dateJune 2013
Completion dateOctober 2013
Model-making date2008
Concept date2003

Location and ownership

LocationThe Helix park, between Falkirk and Grangemouth, Scotland, beside the Forth and Clyde Canal near the River Carron and next to the M9 motorway
Site settingPlaced on both sides of a specially built lock and basin at the eastern gateway of the Forth and Clyde Canal
Project contextPart of The Helix, a green-space and urban regeneration project intended to connect sixteen communities in the Falkirk council area
Commissioned byScottish Canals
Associated infrastructureHas its own visitor centre
Associated infrastructureIncludes a souvenir shop, cafe, and information point; guided tours are available
Associated infrastructureSits beside a newly developed canal extension and turning pool

Significance

Size distinctionOne of the largest horse sculptures in the world
Visitor numbersNearly one million visitors in the first year after opening
RecognitionA major tourist attraction and a contemporary symbol of Falkirk
ReceptionPraised for technical ambition and integration into the redevelopment, though some critics found it monumental but lacking subtlety