In May I was awarded the 2007 Jerwood Sculpture Prize for my proposal, Spring. Next pictures-

Researching my proposal for the Jerwood Sculpture Prize brief, I realized that Ragley Hall is situated above one of England's most significant aquifers. About 40 percent of Severn and Trent Water's supply comes from this vast subterranean water resource, as do the celebrated springs at nearby Malvern, Leamington Spa and Burton on Trent.

Rather than construct and import something into the park, my proposal involved drilling a borehole into the aquifer below the site. Water from the borehole would be then pumped to the surface where it would appear as a cloud of fine mist. Spring's external form and appearance will vary significantly depending on weather and light conditions, but the reliable water source means that it will remain a permanent feature of the park.

As well as having a formal relationship with the nearby sculptures, Spring will have a direct and active relationship with the landscape itself. Using the actual water present in the ground, visible vapour will sustain the turf and surrounding plants before vanishing into the atmosphere and ultimately returning to the ground.

While at first glance Spring might look like a natural phenomenon, on close inspection the form of its jets and the presence of nearby solar panels will reveal the fact that it is a man-made intervention into the landscape. The parkland at Ragley Hall is similarly deceptive; its rolling hills, informal stands of trees and picturesque lake were, in fact, designed by Capability Brown.

The following pages document the installation process.

Spring was unveiled at the Jerwood Sculpture Park at Ragley Hall, Warwickshire, in June 2008.

This page includes press for the project.

The 2007 prize announcement; The Jerwood Sculpture Prize; Jerwood Sculpture at Ragley Hall;The Jerwood Sculpture Park.