20m high (65ft) with a wing span of 54m (175ft), the Angel of the North stands on a hill looking out over the A1 south of Newcastle and Gateshead: an arresting sight for the 90,000 people who see it each day as they drive by. Designed by Antony Gormley, it is Britain’s largest sculpture, made of 200 tonnes of weathering steel.
The information at the site explains the sculptor decided upon an angel “because no-one knows what they look like so we need to keep imagining. It has three functions: a historic one to remind us that at this site coal miners worked in the dark for 200 years, to grasp hold of the future expressing our transition from the industrial to the information age and lastly to be a focus for our hopes and fears.”
It has been quite a few years since we actually pulled off the road on our journey to or from Newcastle to see the ‘Gateshead Flasher’ close up. On our drive home from Scotland the sky was so blue, I had to stop and take some photographs. In all my travels, seeing this sculpture close up is still a heart-stopping, moving experience, no matter how many times I visit. She stands there with her wings slightly angled forward to create ‘a sense of embrace’ and welcomes visitors who happily clamber on her feet.
I can’t decide which photograph I like best so here are my favourites showing the magnificent Angel of the North in all her glory.
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| Can you spot Rory and Dougie resting at the feet? |
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| Notice the little boy standing on the feet, leaning towards the ankles. |
A lady not in need of heels.
…or underwear.
That's cool! Never seen anything like it!
It's quite a sight.
Love it. Great photos. I always get a huge surge of something when I see her for the first time every year, and yet when it was first erected I didn't like it at all. And yes, it's quite something when you get close up. Good job I'm home in a couple of months, sniff.
Yes, I experience the same feelings. I always try and spot it first when we are driving.
The ex-Queenager keeps saying she wants it as a tattoo, but I have a feeling it'll turn out more like Buzz Lightyear.
Hee hee! To infinity and beyond. By the way, do you think Angel is male or female? Kelloggsville in comment below thought it was male but you and I both referred to it as she. No definitive answer on Internet.
What an incredible sculpture, I'm not sure I'd ever heard of it before, thanks for the pix.
Glad you like it. Quite stunning isn't it!
I never knew it was a she, I always thought it was a he.
I've no idea whether it's meant to be male or female. I see it as a she, Dougie sees it as a he. I suppose it's quite androgynous but to me it has female curves.
I'm with kelloggsville. He's a he. Look at those calves. He's the highlight of our trips up and down though!
That and the Doncaster soft play, obviously.
Another vote for male….and the Doncaster soft play 😉
Looking at it again, I think it looks female in the first photo but quite masculine in the last one…from behind.
She is really beautiful….I was so excited when we saw her and I look forward to seeing her again.
It is quite a thrill to see the Angel. I think locals worried it would cause accidents as drives lose concentration. Don't know if that ever happened.
I am a huge lover of sculpture, but undecided as to whether I like this one or not… I do however love your pics, and the description of it as the Gateshead Flasher made me laugh! 😀
At the time many people hated it but have grown to appreciate it. It's even better close up. Maybe it has more significance for me as I see it when I am returning to my home town.
I'm ashamed to say I have still yet to see this in the flesh (as it were). Whenever I see pics of it it gives me flashbacks to Byker Grove…
I suppose you need a reason be travelling past it. Ah Byker Grove, that takes me back!
I love everything about that statue, the wings the height and where it is. Reminds me of the sculpture park up in the woods on the border of Gloucestershire and Wales, just raises you to other heights and sensibilities. Fun of Rory standing like that- gives it perspective
I remember going to the Yorkshire sculpture park many years ago and loved it. Even the weird and wacky ones at least make you stop and look.
The little boy in the last photo isn't Rory. Don't know who he is and only realised there was a little gymnast in the shot when I saw it larger on the computer! Rory's pose was far less energetic.
With bingo wings like that it has got to be a she!
Well she/he is certainly no 'fat lady'.
Gateshead Flasher!! I haven't heard that one. We have never stopped but I always love seeing it as we approach Newcastle on the A1 as it means we're finally almost 'there'.
I hadn't heard the term either but came across it when I was gathering some detail about the sculpture.
It's quite thrilling to see it as you drive by, isn't it.
I've never seen her (I'm sure it's a she too!) but would love to. One to put on the list!
I keep changing my mind about the sex of the damn thing now. Probably hermaphrodite! Definitely worth seeing if you get the chance.
Wow… That looks magnificent. I cannot decide which photo I like best either! xx
Sunshine always improves my photos! I've passed the Angel a few times when it's dull and knew I couldn't do it justice if the weather wasn't right!
Would it be OK for me to use one of your images in making a banner for my church?
Yes, that's no problem at all.