A brand new set of enormous pieces of public art are aboutto be added to the Cumbrian landscape.

Five metres high and distinctive by their style of strips of metal, a huge bull and a mare with a foal have been commissioned by Cumberland Council to mark the completion of the new Carlisle southern link road.

Not without some differences of opinion about them, the new work will dominate two roundabouts for thousands of road users to see for years to come.

They’ve been created by Cumbrian born blacksmith and welder Ellie Barden at her forge and workshop near Penrith. On a fresh winter’s morning, Tom Speight went to meet Ellie as she finalised her work, to discover how she became inspired to become and remain an artist in Cumbria….