Fife blacksmith offers Kirkcaldy sculpture replacement

Blacksmith Andy Davis is keen to make a replacement or other artwork for the Esplanade.

Andy Davis, owner of Archway Metals in neighbouring Kinghorn, said he’d love to get involved in designing and building an alternative to the current David Mach sculpture that is falling apart less than four years after it was installed.

Fife Council has put an exclusion zone around the controversial sculpture and has not ruled out taking the piece down should it decay further.

Now Andy wants to get involved in creating a possible replacement after reading about it in the Fife Free Press.

Andy's unicorn sculpture, a work in progress.

“I’d love to design a replacement if that’s what’s needed and have a few ideas that I know would work,” said Andy.

“Maybe something that ties in with the heritage of the town or its industrial past, or something as a stand alone piece that would create a statement piece at the start of the seafront from this end of the Esplanade.

“As a blacksmith by trade I don’t have any art qualifications but would love to expand on the more creative side of the business, taking influence from the sort of stunning visual sculptures Kelpies creator Andy Scott has made his name with.”

Andy’s work has already come to prominence in recent months when a sculpture of his own hit the headlines.

The Phantom sculpture on Kirkcaldy's Esplanade.

His flag waving sculpture, which appeared on the roof of his Kinghorn workshop, attracted interest and controversy in equal measure.

Fife Council has since ordered him to remove the figure because it contravenes planning regulations. But that hasn’t deterred Andy from expanding his artistic horizons.

“We’ve had nothing but good words from the people of Kinghorn regarding our flag sculpture, everyone seems to like it which is fantastic.”

And Andy thinks Kirkcaldy’s seafront offers a unique opportunity for creativity and to become a popular attraction.

“There’s huge potential to do something along Kirkcaldy’s seafront and maybe the plans could get local schools and businesses involved as part of a competition to design a piece that could then be voted for by the public.”

Until such time a decision is made regarding the Phantom, Andy is continuing to work on a 12 foot high unicorn sculpture which he hopes to complete over the winter months.

“I’m really excited about it can’t wait to finish it, and after that, who knows.”