Unveiled last month on Scarborough Harbour overlooking the North Sea, Paul Morrison’s ‘Sea Oak’ sculpture is the latest work to be added to the Wild Eye coastal art and nature trail.

_{Photo: Richard Ponter}

Created in the shape of a piece of bladderwrack — an ecologically important seaweed species common to the UK — the highly-polished structure reflects both the viewer and the ever-changing coastal conditions, celebrating the important role that seaweed plays in contributing to the health of the ocean, whilst inviting audiences to reflect on their own interconnection with the natural world. Bladderwrack (commonly known as ‘Sea Oak’) seaweed has been chosen due to its rich history of therapeutic use in various cultures, also playing a crucial role in the food chain for marine organisms.

_{Photo: Jules Lister}

Wild Eye is an ambitious art-nature project by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and art-science organisation Invisible Dust. The project engages with leading artists to create new works that celebrate North Yorkshire’s amazing wildlife and marine life, while raising awareness of the need to protect both against pollution and climate change. Sea Oak connects with existing sculptures by Ryan Gander and Juneau Projects at Scarborough Castle and Whitby Harbour, with further artworks from artists Jeremy Deller, Emma Smith and Shezad Dawood & Daisy Hildyard set to complete the art trail by 2025. Find out more about the project here.