Rolling Stone lends one-tonne sculpture to Longleat

A one-tonne revolving sculpture created "on a whim" by Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, has been installed at a safari park in Wiltshire.

The large bronze work, called 'Struggles and Triumphs', has been loaned to Longleat Safari Park by the rock musician - who has been painting and drawing since he was 12 years old.

Based on an original smaller piece created by Wood in a single afternoon, the work depicting a man and a horse has gone on display in the estate's Secret Garden.

Wood, said: "This has given me so much enjoyment as I rarely venture into sculpture. It means a lot to have it here at Longleat."

Wood, who trained at Ealing Art College in the 1960s and is a classically-trained artist, said he completed the sculpture "in one sitting".

"It came about on a whim as I love horses," he said.

"It was in the foundry for three to six months; they suggested rotating it and I thought what a brilliant idea."

He said when he heard the sculpture would be in the safari park's secret garden, he was "very excited" as the location was "perfect for it".

A Longleat spokesman, said they were "thrilled" the Rolling Stones legend had loaned them "one of his incredible sculptures".

And Ceawlin Thynn, the 8th Marquess of Bath, said they were "delighted to have it" at Longleat.

"It is in an area which is just perfect for it – it looks like it was made to be there," he said.

While his wife, Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath, said the sculpture was "beautiful".

"The colours are stunning and will change with the seasons as the light bathing it changes," she said.

Both Wood and Lady Bath are ambassadors for African wildlife conservation charity Tusk.

They met at a Tusk fundraising event, when she bought a pink silver studded gorilla art piece created by Wood's wife.

Wood said he got involved with Tusk because he wanted his "kids and other people's children to be able to see animals such as rhinos, lions, tigers".

"Longleat is wonderful," he said.

"Conservation of these animals is so important to protect them for the future."

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