Finlay, ian hamilton

Finlay moved to Stonypath in the autumn of with his wife Sue and their six month old Alec, a baby daughter Allie would arrive the following year. In partnership with Sue, Finlay began to create what would become an internationally acclaimed garden across seven acres of a wild and exposed moorland site.

Ian hamilton finlay archive

Collaborating with stone carvers, letterers and at times other artists and poets, the numerous sculptures and artworks created by Finlay, which are all integral to the garden, explore themes as diverse as the sea and its fishing fleets, our relationship to nature, classical antiquity, the French Revolution and the Second World War. Individual poetic and sculptural elements, in wood, stone and metal, are sited in relation to carefully structured landscaping and planting.

In this way, the garden in its entirety is the artwork. The Trust also seeks to ensure the garden can continue to welcome visitors from around the world and be a site of reflection, inspiration and discovery. This website provides a range of resources for visitors to Little Sparta.