This scary face has been carved into the stonework, above the entrance to Salisbury Cathedral – look at that little devil chomping on his face – quite awful!

A monkey in a zoo, far from home (unless Cornwall has monkeys now)?

This spooky looking place is Netley Abbey, just outside Southampton. From what I can remember it was built in the 13th century, then Henry VIII came along, “dissolved the monastries” and it was turned into luxury Tudor apartments (some things never change). Unfortunately this domestication resulted in some sort of chip-pan fire, and disaster (hence the ruins).

I love this statue in Trafalgar Square in London. Alison Lapper is a remarkable artist in her own right, and here has been sculpted to sit along side Nelson in front of the National Gallery. You’re reminded whilst looking at her of all the classical statues who had the arms knocked off – yet this statue showing the reality of an armless body is much more beautiful and compelling.

The inscription reads…

Alison Lapper Pregnant
Marc Quinn (b. 1964, London)

The sculpture is a portrait of Alison Lapper when she was 8 months pregnant. Carved from white marble, the sculture stands at 3.55 metres and weigh 3 tons.

‘To me, Alison Lapper Pregnant is a monument to the future possibilities of the human race as well as the resilience of the human spirit.’
Marc Quinn

Unveiled 15 September 2005
Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London