A giant fish-themed artwork which has overlooked North Shields Fish Quay for more than 30 years has been restored to its former glory.
The Nater’s Bank Fishscape was created in 1987 to celebrate the first Fish Quay Festival but it fell into disrepair over the years and by 2019 it was little more than fragments of concrete and tiles beneath a thick covering of weeds.
The piece, which measures 30 square metres and clings to the side of a steep bank between Tyne Road and Union Quay, was created by the Freeform Arts Trust with help from local residents and school children.
Now the piece has been painstakingly renewed thanks to the hard work of local people and the original artists, backed by North Tyneside Council.
Sculptor Richard Broderick, an artist known for public art commissions across the North East, was delighted to be asked to come back and work on the piece he helped create over 30 years ago.
He said: “The piece was completely overgrown with weeds, so one of the first tasks was working with volunteers to give it a very thorough weeding. We cleared away something like 40 or 50 bin bags full of rubbish and then moved on to the structural and decorative work as well which has taken several months.
“It’s been quite nice with people coming past, maybe in their 50s, who remember us creating this back in 1987 and some of them even helped us make the mosaics when they were at school. So there is a fair bit of local awareness but it can be seen in all its glory now.”
Councillor Sarah Day, Cabinet Member responsible for Culture, Sport and Leisure, said: "We're very pleased with the project. It’s a significant piece of artwork that the council has responsibility for and we are very keen to maintain our public art and promote new art.
“As we go through the continued renewal of the Fish Quay, it makes sense to bring this work forward, repair and restore it and allow future generations to have the opportunity to enjoy it as well.
“The significant thing is that we have had the original artists come back to the project and use their expertise to bring it back to its former glory. I think now that it’s uncovered it is significant and will be appreciated by local people for many years to come.”
