EXCITING plans are afoot for a major sculpture to be placed on a hill above the A3 near Guildford – a large monument for the south of England, balancing the ‘Angel of the North’ in Gateshead.

The sculpture is a new bronze cast of George Frederick Watts’ famous Physical Energy, the original cast of which was first displayed in the courtyard of the Royal Academy in 1904.

The new cast, commissioned by the Watts Gallery in collaboration with The Royal Academy of Arts to mark the bicentenary of the birth of G F Watts, will be placed on the hill above Watts Gallery Artists’ Village in Compton, with a track down through the wood to the buildings.

Following its presentation at the RA, it will be ready to go up during the summer this year and it is the subject of a talk entitled ‘The Sculpture of Physical Energy – Past, Present and Future’ which will put it into context as an iconic Victorian piece with a future.

The talk, hosted by the Farnham Public Art Trust, will be given by Dr Desna Greenhow on Friday, April 20 at the St Joan’s Centre, Tilford Road, Farnham, GU9 8DJ.

All are welcome - doors open at 7.30pm for an 8pm start, and tickets are available at the door, £6 per person (students £2). For further information visit www.farnhampublicarttrust.co.uk or ring 01252 722975.