The eye-catching sculptures found across the West

The south west is well known for its artistic culture - Bristol is the home of street art and Glastonbury hosts one of the biggest music festivals.

This might be one of the reasons why you can find so many interesting sculptures in the area: from the huge Willow Man, now sadly falling into disrepair, on the M5, to the Malmesbury monk and more recent creations in Bristol.

Here is our list of where to find these varied and fascinating sculptures.

Bristol, home of Banksy, is the birthplace of street art. This is where you will find some of the best-known sculptures in the West.

Of course, the city is not just home to Banksy but also to Hollywood hero Cary Grant. And where better to start than with a statue in the actor's honour on Millennium Square.

Nearby, there is also a sculpture of a beetle outside Bristol Aquarium by artist Nicola Hicks, based on the rhinoceros beetle, one of various scarab beetles that have one or more horns on their heads.

Bear With Me was installed on Jacob's Wells Road in Bristol in 2020 to mark World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September.

"I installed this statue during the pandemic, but now people are struggling for different reasons, but just as much. I'm not overly optimistic about things getting better, which is all the more reason why you've got to keep talking about it," the anonymous artist said.

Anyone who has been to the centre of Bristol will have noticed the statue of Neptune. He was cast in lead by the Bristol founder Jon Rendall in 1723. There is also Pero's Bridge, which is currently closed due to a malfunction, which was designed by Eillis O'Connell and named after a slave who lived and died in 18th Century Bristol.

Gloucestershire is iconic for many reasons, but internationally probably most famous for the cheese-rolling competition at Cooper's Hill each May.

There's a gargoyle celebrating the famous race on top of Gloucester Cathedral.

A sculpture honouring a gorilla who lived in a Cotswolds village was erected in Uley.

The gorilla, called John Daniel, was adopted by Alyce Cunningham in 1918, after her brother bought it for £300 in London.

There's also the Forest of Dean sculpture trail, which includes stairs that lead to nowhere that went viral online for baffling passers-by. It also includes a huge pine cone.

The Roman Baths in Bath are an iconic part of the city's history, drawing thousands of visitors every year. The main pool is overlooked by some very eye-catching sculptures.

There are also sculptures just around the corner to the baths, showing angels running along a small ladder on the front of Bath Abbey.

Close to the M5 near Bridgwater, you can find the iconic "Willow Man", which has recently fallen into disrepair.

In Watchet, a beloved goose was memorialised with a sculpture. Derek, the goose, had become a regular sight at Watchet Harbour after migrating to the area more than 10 years ago.

In Wiltshire, there are a few unusual sculptures, including a monk depicted in meditation. It was made by William Lazard. It commemorates the role of monks in Malmesbury's history.

The King Alfred the Great sculpture is a famous landmark in the village of Pewsey and was unveiled in 1913 to commemorate the coronation of George V.

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