Waymarkers

Reece Ingram – 35 Multiple Locations – 1997 to 1998

Photograph courtesy of Reece Ingram April 1997

Material: Wood

Trail: Silurian Way

Theme: Nature

Form: Figurative – animals

Maps Featured on: 2003 – 2005

Status: Some Decommissioned, 7 still in situ, all weathered, some severely damaged Oct 2023. (6 Destroyed by Grizedale Arts).

These waymarkers were positioned throughout the forest by the main trails to help people located sculptures positioned off the path that would otherwise be difficult to find. Prior to this markers were stakes in the ground with an ‘S’ painted on them.

Not all sculptures had a marker. 35 were carved and installed in 1997. Reece made approximately 1 a day while at Grizedale. 10 were carved from original designs the rest were created on the spot. They all feature animals.

Most, if not all waymarkers have moved over the years. When the sculpture they were marking was removed, they were often positioned in a new location. At least one has been in 3 locations that I know about.

Apparently when first installed some people thought these were the sculpture rather than just a hint to where one was. I, like a lot of people at the time, enjoyed them and knew when I saw one there was a sculpture nearby which was exciting… but I sadly never photographed them. Thanks to the artist and members of the publics help I now have photographs of all but two of the markers. They are listed here in alphabetical order:

3 Snail Shells: (For original photograph see above). (I believe) previously marked Wolves. Currently marking Cliff Structure. Still in situ June 2021.

Photograph taken 2017

2. Adder. Previously marked Stone Forest &/or Forest Fugue (on the corner near them both) until 2000 when it was removed and destroyed by Grizedale Arts (see bottom of page).

3. Ant second marker for marked A Cry in the Wilderness until 2000 when it was removed and destroyed by Grizedale Arts (see bottom of page).

4. Badger with Moon first marker for A Cry in the Wilderness until around 2004 after which it was moved to mark Private Meeting.

This waymarker has now fallen over and is unrecognisable anymore July 2020.

5. Bat with Orion Stars originally marked Water Wheel which was removed 1998. Stayed where it was to then mark River Under Tension. It later was positioned on the Ridding Wood Trail in 2003. Since 2009 it has marked Last Rays of an English Rose. Presume now removed as Last Rays has been re-sited onto the Millwood Trail, removed between Dec 2020 and Oct 2023.

6. Bat marked Decomposers. In 2000 it was removed and destroyed by Grizedale Arts (see below & bottom of page).

Here is part of Spawn of the Grizedale Beast. It is the Bat waymarker partially chopped up with pins in its face. See bottom page for further information on this…

7. Bee (I believe) marked Hive, possibly also Wind Thrust. In 1998 Hive was re-sited. It later was positioned on the Ridding Wood Trail in 2003. Unsure what happened after this.

6 Waymarkers moved to the start of the Ridding Wood Trail around 2003. Bee is second from right.

8. Butterfly currently marks Columns. Possibly marked Harbour before being moved. Removed between Sept 2017 & October 2023.

9. Caterpillar currently marks Taking a Wall for a Walk. (Originally used to mark something else but unsure what). Still in situ Sept 2017.

10. Dragonfly marked Pinnacles, which was removed from maps around 2004. Unsure what happened to the waymarker after this.

Photograph taken April 1997 by Ingram.

11. Dung Beetle marked Solid Oak (seen in back of shot). This sculpture was removed from maps in 1998. Unsure what happened to the waymarker after this.

Photograph taken April 1997 by Ingram.

12. Dung Beetle 2. Unsure what it marked (looks like Breasty Haw location, maybe The Passage). In 2000 it was removed and destroyed by Grizedale Arts (see bottom of page).

Photograph taken April 1997 by Ingram.

13. Fawn currently marks Picket Fence (possibly previously marked something else (looks like Farra Grain area, maybe Silurian Cant). Still in situ November 2021.

14. Fish marked After the Rain/Flood which was removed from maps around 2004. Unsure what happened to the waymarker after this.

15. Goose marked Private Meeting. At some point this was removed as Badger with Moon (above) marks it now.

Photograph taken April 1997 by Ingram.

16. Millipede Bowl marked Circus this was removed from maps around 2004. Unsure what happened to the waymarker after this.

Photograph taken April 1997 by Ingram.

17. Mole Bowl currently marks Seed. Still in situ May 2019.

Left photograph taken April 1997 by Ingram. Right my photo taken 2019

18. Mosquito previously marked Wild Boar Clearing. It then marked Pyxis. Removed between Sept 2017 and Oct 2023.

19. Moth (I believe) marked Taking a Wall for a Walk, (top can be seen in background). Then moved to Ridding Wood Trail, unsure what happened to it after this.

Photograph by Reece Ingram 1997

20. Mouse God of Thunder was the second marker for God of Thunder. The tower carved in the same design as the sculpture. It was removed from maps in around 2004, unsure what happened to the waymarker after this.

21. Mouse Tower (or is it an otter?) marked The Guardians. Moved to the Ridding Wood around 2003. No idea why this was moved as The Guardians is still there, and is/ always has been very hard to find. Unsure what happened to the waymarker after this.

Photograph by Mike Kewley.

22. Nuthatch (I assume) marked Columns. The column part is actually based on Brancusi’s Endless Column sculpture. At some point the column lost a few diamonds. Was this destroyed by Grizedale Arts (see bottom of page).

23. Otter marks Habitat. Between 2006 and 2017 Habitat wasn’t listen on maps, but the marker remained. Still in situ Dec 2020

24. Owl marked Deer Hunter. This sculpture was removed 2003 and Owl moved to Ridding Wood Trail. Unsure what happened to it after this.

Photograph by Mike Kewley.

25. Pupae unsure what it marked (possibly first marker for God of Thunder) but in 2000 it was removed and destroyed by Grizedale Arts (see bottom of page).

Photograph taken April 1997 by Ingram.

26. Red Squirrel marked Between Elephants. The sculpture was removed from maps some time after 2006. Unsure what happened to the marker after this.

Photograph taken April 1997 by Ingram.

27. Red Squirrel 2 possibly marked Omphalos. The sculpture was removed from maps some time after 2006. Unsure what happened to the marker after this.

Photograph taken April 1997 by Ingram.

28. Sheep possibly marked 17 Degrees South. Positioned at the base of the ascent to the top of Carron Crag.

Photograph taken April 1997 by Ingram.

29. Slug marked Touchstone. Removed between Dec 2017 & Dec 2020.

30. Spider, no idea wha this marked, the landscape behind could be where Picket Fence is, though the spider would be the wrong side of the road… Unsure when it was removed or what happened it.

Photograph taken April 1997 by Ingram.

31. Sun Moon Star Beetle marked Standing Stone. The sculpture was removed from maps around 2003, the waymarker moved to the Ridding Wood Trail. Unsure what happened to it after that.

Photograph by Mike Kewley.

32. Toad Bowl marked Only One Fish Left. The sculpture went around 2004 but the marker has never been removed, possibly to direct people to the Tarn view point. Still in situ November 2021.

33. Worm marks Midnight Feast. Still in situ June 2021.

Two further markers were made, but I don’t have information or photographs for either.

34. ?

35. ?

Grizedale Arts

It is explained on the Grizedale Arts website that some of the waymarkers that were not being used in the forest were given to an artist Simon Bill by Adam Sutherland to do with as he wanted.

“(Simon was) going to the studio every day and cutting up some obsolete marker posts originally commissioned from artist Reece Ingram. These were transformed through additions of various found materials into a 6-piece floor based work ‘Spawn of the Grizedale Beast’. The work was coated in a thick bright orange paint. It was shown in the Visitor Centre gallery space as part of ‘A Different Weekend’ (2000) and was one of the prize-winning works.

Spawn of the Grizedale Beast

simonbill — Photo from Grizedale Arts website

A feud erupted when Reece Ingram discovered that Simon had used his sculptures/marker posts as the basis for this new work and an interesting if rather aggressive discussion ensued about authorship, copyright and sampling. Reece maintained the position that this new work was a breach of copyright and in effect theft, while GA director Adam supported Simon’s assertion that the recycling of the posts was akin to sampling and thus was co authorship. Northern Arts (now Arts Council England North West) were asked to intervene but refused to take sides, and Artist’s Newsletter published Reece’s letter on the matter. When Simon showed the work at Modern Art in London’s trendy Shoreditch, Reece left a comment in the visitor book congratulating Simon on their joint work. – And as James Brown – the world’s most sampled recording artist – once said: “Yes, I am against sampling. How would you like it if I came over and sampled your wife?””

Waymarkers used in Spawn of the Grizedale Beast:

Adder. 2. Ant. 3. Bat. 4. Dung Beetle 2. 5. Pupae. 6. Nuthatch?

This is rather awful to read, the works were stolen, mutilated and then won prizes with a different artist. What’s strange is that the majority of the waymarkers used by Simon Bill were still marking sculptures at this time, and have subsequently had other markers moved into their place. Meaning they weren’t “Obselete” they were deliberately taken, solely to be used in this “artwork”.

Artist’s other work in Grizedale –

Sethera – 1998

Tread Quietly Into That Good Night – 1998

Artist’s Website: www.reeceingram.co.uk

Page Last Updated Oct 2023


Photo April 1997 by Ingram.	Photo by Mike Kewley. Website Link Here.


Photo April 1997 by Ingram	My photo taken 2019 in Grizedale Arts office.


Photo April 1997 by Ingram.	Photo by Kate Jewell, 2003. Original Photograph Here.


Photo April 1997 by Ingram	Photo by Adrian Brothwell. Original Photo Location Here.


Photograph taken April 1997 by Ingram.	My photo taken Dec 2020.

Grizedale Arts

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