A talented Fife apprentice has helped create a sculpture celebrating Kirkcaldy’s historic Links Market.
Casey Gardner, an apprentice painter at Persimmon Homes training at Fife College, designed and painted the sculpture installation of a traditional hobby horse which was unveiled to the public on Kirkcaldy Esplanade last week.
The two-metre-tall sculpture was made and gifted by the Showmen’s Guild to commemorate the Lang-Toun’s historical and present links to the famous fairground. Located at The Basin on Kirkcaldy’s Esplanade, the project, supported by Fife Council, was led by Kirkcaldy West Community Council and has been years in the making; with 19-year-old Casey’s contribution adding the finishing touches to this latest waterfront attraction.
She said, “It’s been an incredible experience working on this sculpture, knowing it will become part of Kirkcaldy’s history. My apprenticeship with Persimmon and college training has given me opportunities to work on unique projects like this, and I can’t wait to see it in place.”
Alice Soper of Kirkcaldy West Community Council and honorary member the Showman’s Guild, added, “The project has been a long time in the making, so it’s wonderful to now see it installed, marking the longstanding connecting with the town and our much-loved Links Market. It’s a fantastic sculpture and Casey, our local apprentice from Fife College, has done a superb job in designing and painting the horse which I’m sure will now become another well-loved feature of our increasingly impressive esplanade.”
Councillor Ian Cameron, convenor of Fife Council’s Kirkcaldy area committee, commented, “On behalf of Fife Council, I’d like to thank the Showman’s Guild and Kirkcaldy West Community Council for getting this wonderful piece of public art in place and of course to Casey for her impressive creativity in designing and painting what is a very striking installation. Not only does it further enhance the town’s popular waterfront but also celebrates the area’s historic and ongoing connection to the much-loved Links Market as we approach it opening again later this month.”
