Culture, Weymouth | Posted on April 4th, 2025 | return to news
Weymouth to celebrate 100 years of sand sculptures
Ahead of the upcoming launch of Weymouth’s 15th sand sculpting festival this weekend, SandWorld is looking back at 100 years of heritage.
Weymouth’s sand sculpture festival will launch for the 15th year this weekend at SandWorld in Lodmoor Park. To mark the occasion, SandWorld is celebrating 100 years of incredible sand sculpting in the area.
For more than a century, visitors to Weymouth’s beaches have been wowed by incredible artists creating everything from historic landmarks to intricate portraits out of the beach’s golden sands.
Fred Darrington began his sand sculpting journey in the 1920s and spent 70 incredible years perfecting his craft. His lifelike sculptures ranged from pyramids and sphinxes to The Last Supper and even a Loch Ness Monster. Darrington’s work became a beloved attraction on Weymouth Beach.
Another legendary sculptor was Jack Hayward, who was active from the 1930s to the 1970s and was known for his impressive architectural sand sculptures, particularly of ecclesiastical buildings.
Darrington’s grandson Mark Anderson continued the family tradition. Anderson fondly recalls how Darrington would recreate his famous sandbread, often fooling onlookers into believing it was real.
Anderson later took over Weymouth’s beachfront exhibition. Over the years, his work has included everything from seahorses to royal landmarks, including a 20ft-wide Windsor Castle created for a royal visit in 2009, admired by The Queen and Prince Philip.
In 2011, Anderson co-founded SandWorld, Weymouth’s first-ever sand sculpture festival, alongside his friend and fellow sand artist of 20 years, David Hicks, known for his large-scale, high-impact designs.
Today, SandWorld at Lodmoor Park showcases original artwork from some of the world’s finest sand artists and continues to amaze and inspire visitors of all ages.
This year’s sand sculpture festival promises an extraordinary lineup featuring prehistoric creatures, a full-colour Egyptian Prince, beloved children’s characters, and a range of original artworks. Visitors can also enjoy hands-on workshops and family-friendly activities.
Plus, world-renowned sand sculptor Sudarsan Pattnaik from Odisha, India, will be creating a special piece at this year’s festival. For over 30 years, Sudarsan has used his sand artistry to promote culture and social causes, earning international accolades. He has been honoured with one of India’s highest civilian awards by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and continues to inspire new generations of artists. Sudarsan will receive the Fred Darrington Award for Excellence in Art and Culture, a one-of-a-kind Stuart Wiltshire glass wave containing a small amount of Weymouth sand to commemorate his time here.
The mayor of Weymouth will be presenting the award during the Open Day on Saturday 5 April at 1pm.
SandWorld will be open daily from 10.30am from Saturday 5 April 2025 until Sunday 9 November. Visit www.sandworld.co.uk for details.
Please share post:
LATEST NEWS:
CHARITY OF THE YEAR 2025
Subscribe to the online magazine news letter
