Beginning and End - Central Beach

Background

Are you are standing in Prestatyn, the beginning (or end) of the Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail?. The walking trail links Prestatyn with Sedbury Cliffs, Chepstow. The trail is named after King Offa, a Mercian King who built a dyke between Wales and England in the 8th century AD. People have debated the purpose of the dyke for many years. Was it a boundary between Wales and England? or a custom barrier? How did it work? Whatever the answer it has played a part in helping define the Welsh nation.

For about 60 miles the 177 mile long National Trail follows the monument Offa’s Dyke, but here in the north the Trail diverges from the Dyke and follows the tops of the Clwydian Range and Prestatyn Hillside, before dropping down into Prestatyn itself.

 

 

Dechrau a Diwedd

The name given to this work is ‘dechrau a diwedd’ (beginning and end) This acknowledges the nature of the Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail and Prestatyn as a point of departure or arrival.

The trail is symbolised by a stylised representation of the sun.To either side of the sun sculpture are paved areas, some made of local Welsh, limestone.The limestone blocks provide seating and also photo opportunities for hikers starting or finishing the trail.

Walkers starting their journey in Presatyn will see the sculpture against the eastern sky. a metaphor for sunrise and the start of their journey. For those who arrive into Prestatyn at the end of their trek will experience the sculpture in the western sky, a metaphor for sunset, the end of their journey

About Camm

Craig and Mary Matthews are partners in Camm Design, a multi disciplinary visual arts practice which has studio/workshop facilities in Birkenhead docklands.  Their work is largely focused on large scale permanent sculptural forms intended for siting in public spaces.

The majority of work produced by Camm is site specific, with ideas drawn from local sources to achieve a sense on identity and relevance to each site.  Size and form of sculptural work is generally influenced by the project brief, the surrounding landscape and local architectural massing.

Many sculptural projects completed by Camm have been made using stainless steel, the material selected for the Central Beach site at Prestatyn.  As a material it offers unparallel opportunity to achieve ephemeral surface reflectivity which responds to surrounding changes in the weather, particularly in coastal areas which benefit from a unique quality of natural light.