Commemoration of the Somme and those who were left behind.

Sand sculptors Claire Jamieson and Jamie Wardley creating a sculpture to commemorate the Battle of the Somme

This year was Sand In Your Eye’s 7^th year at the East Neuk Festival making sand sculptures and sand drawings. It has begun to feel like visiting family. Everyone makes us feel so welcome every year and we chat to locals and visitors about sand sculptures from previous years. Our little family has grown up visiting this lovely part of Scotland. Once again Graham and Edna made us very welcome to the Honeypot Guest House and Café with Edna’s famous carrot cake! The East Neuk Festival team have now become experts in discussing sand sculptures, they can detail all about the sand and what happens when it rains.

Tilly, Claire and Tom compacting the sand

Tom compacting the sand

The theme of the sculpture this year was 100 years since the battle of the Somme. East Neuk Festival and ourselves wanted to make the sculpture about the people who were affected by war 100 years ago. Jamie Wardley and myself, Claire Jamieson made a pregnant mother and child on a day out at the beach. The mother deep in thought and concern. We left it up to the viewer to decide if her husband had just left for war, was missing, or had died. Either way it would be a terrifying and stressful time for her. We titled the piece “Those that were left behind”

UK sand sculptors Claire Jamieson and Jamie Wardley

Claire Jamieson and Jamie Wardley at the press call of the sand sculpture

During the sand sculpture Tom Bolland was hard at work preparing for the Sand Drawing. We would be teaming up with some students from Waid Academy to create one of the two sand drawings. Tom visited the school to chat to the students about the day and what it meant to them. They would be raking in the sand the names of 42 people from their school who died during the Battle of the Somme. Tom then met them on the beach a few days later for a practice day.

Waid Academy practice day

On the day of the sand drawing we arrived on Elie beach at 5am bright eyed and bushy tailed!!! We set up and began the first drawing, we had a few hours break in between and then we were back for the second of the drawings. We found the results poignant and thought provoking. The reaction from passers by was marvelous, they really understood the concept and some were quite moved by the piece.

anamorphic sand drawing in Elie, Scotland commemorating the Battle of the Somme

anamorphic sand drawing in Elie, Scotland commemorating the Battle of the Somme

anamorphic sand drawing in Elie, Scotland commemorating the Battle of the Somme

Jamie Wardley adding the final touches to one of the two sand drawings to commemorate the Battle of the Somme

Here’s some of the images from the events. We hope to see you all again next year!