An artist with a farming background has combined soil from Yorkshire and mud from Belgium to create a unique art piece commemorating those who fell during World War One.
'Fields of Mud, Seeds of Hope' is a unique sculptural piece using mud from Passchendaele, Belgium and soil taken from a Great War military camp in North Yorkshire.
As the wet mud dries and cracks, five battle weary silhouettes gradually appear, returning from the home front.
Deep within the mud millions of poppy seeds lay dormant. When decommissioned, segments of the sculpture comprising of the dried earth and seeds will be made available to the public to create their own artworks or memorial gardens.
The work, on display at Ripon Cathedral until November 14, commemorates the sacrifices made by the generation who served during the Great War and the legacies the conflict created.
Project leader Dan Metcalfe is from a farming background, having studied agriculture at both Askham Bryan and Bishop Burton colleges.
After a short time farming, he set up as a landscaper in an attempt to find an outlet for his creativity.
Whilst no longer in agriculture, he remains in touch and influenced by the land, nature and the elements, and uses his landscapes as a canvas to create, incorporating his love of nature and rural Yorkshire upbringing.
Fields of Mud, Seeds of Hope is at Ripon Cathedral until November 14. Viewing 9.30am-6pm daily. Admission is free.
