This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-29080006
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Artist Simon Beck's giant Somerset beach art | Artist Simon Beck's giant Somerset beach art |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Over the summer a giant crop-circle, a huge Yoda and a 200m (656 ft) memorial to John Lennon have all appeared on a Somerset beach. Each has lasted for just hours before being washed away by the tide. So why make them? | Over the summer a giant crop-circle, a huge Yoda and a 200m (656 ft) memorial to John Lennon have all appeared on a Somerset beach. Each has lasted for just hours before being washed away by the tide. So why make them? |
| The sand art, some the size of two football pitches, has been created by renowned snow artist Simon Beck. | The sand art, some the size of two football pitches, has been created by renowned snow artist Simon Beck. |
| "It's a race against the tide, it's nine hours of furious work," says the artist who is best known for making huge geometric snow designs in the Alps with his feet. | "It's a race against the tide, it's nine hours of furious work," says the artist who is best known for making huge geometric snow designs in the Alps with his feet. |
| "But at least your hands and feet aren't cold." | "But at least your hands and feet aren't cold." |
| Using just a rake and a compass, Beck, from Bracknell, in Berkshire, has crafted more than 28 massive intricate patterns on the sands at Brean since April. | |
| To plot his intricate paths, he first plans out his patterns on graph paper before getting on to the beach at Brean at high tide. | To plot his intricate paths, he first plans out his patterns on graph paper before getting on to the beach at Brean at high tide. |
| "The first stage is a lot of measuring, pacing things out which takes about three hours," he said. | "The first stage is a lot of measuring, pacing things out which takes about three hours," he said. |
| "I use an ordinary rake with a bit of wood tied on the handle to make it heavier. | "I use an ordinary rake with a bit of wood tied on the handle to make it heavier. |
| "As soon as the sand is visible, I start at the top edge of the drawing and by that time the sea's gone out and I can get to the middle." | "As soon as the sand is visible, I start at the top edge of the drawing and by that time the sea's gone out and I can get to the middle." |
| With just nine hours to complete the piece before it's washed away by the tide, there is very little room for error. | With just nine hours to complete the piece before it's washed away by the tide, there is very little room for error. |
| Simon Beck at work | Simon Beck at work |
| "You can rub things out but there's a time penalty," he said. | "You can rub things out but there's a time penalty," he said. |
| "In one I've written 'oops' because I drew a circle in the wrong place and I had to get water to rub it out. | "In one I've written 'oops' because I drew a circle in the wrong place and I had to get water to rub it out. |
| "And if it rains the whole picture disappears." | "And if it rains the whole picture disappears." |
| Walking an estimated 12 miles to complete each work, the drawings are so large Mr Beck said beach-goers often walk across his drawings without realising they are there. | Walking an estimated 12 miles to complete each work, the drawings are so large Mr Beck said beach-goers often walk across his drawings without realising they are there. |
| "I'm definitely a big is beautiful man - the bigger the better," he said. | "I'm definitely a big is beautiful man - the bigger the better," he said. |
| "I'd like to get 1,000 people together and create a two square mile drawing but I've no idea where." | "I'd like to get 1,000 people together and create a two square mile drawing but I've no idea where." |