Farfield Primary and Nursery School, in Buttershaw, welcomed us to create the giant land art in Bradford. It began from a phone call last year from the school, who knew about Jamie growing up on the doorstep of their school. He grew up on Woodside with his mum and older brother. When Jamie began his path creating Sand In Your Eye, it all began from the spare bedroom of his mum’s house, then a lock up in Buttershaw where he built his first ice studio. His Darwin sand sculpture in Bradford was the first large-scale event he had managed on his own and he was incredibly proud it was in his home city.
The school wanted to recognise him and asked for Jamie to come and do an assembly at the school, from this conversation came the idea of creating the land art as part of their back to school activities. The land art is something Jamie creates regularly, but speaking in front of 400 children was the real nerve inducing part of the project. But hopefully he came across well and the children enjoyed his assembly!
We now live in Hebden Bridge and we have had our children here, but Bradford still holds a massive place in his heart. I was living in Manchester when I first met Jamie and he was living in Bradford. Hebden Bridge was our meeting in the middle when we began to plan our lives together.
It’s from the story ‘My Path’ by Jana Curll, which has an inspirational message for children.
The blurb for the book says: “Every morning, a little snail sets off on their path.
“There are mountains to climb, rushing rivers to cross and, sometimes, when the path ahead seems impossible, they need to ask for help. But as long as it feels like the right path for them, this determined snail keeps going.
“Follow this adventurous snail as they decide not to follow the crowd and face unexpected challenges.
“This inspiring journey will help little ones understand that anyone can defy the odds and find their own unique way forward.”
Headteacher Sarah Nichols said children added their own hopes, dreams, and aspirations to the snail and spoke of how Jamie shared his path in life with pupils – “inspiring them to follow theirs wherever it may lead”.
Jamie is a former Buttershaw School pupil, founded Sand in Your Eye nearly 20 years ago.
It began with him meeting a sand sculptor and saying hello to creating sand and ice sculptures across the world, including ice hotels and sand sculpture festivals.
We have grown over the years, boasting a talented team that creates sustainable art, events, and projects. Sand In Your Eye is something that is unique, creative and pushes boundaries. It’s something that little Jamie would have never have believed he could create or is it? The thing that is so special about Jamie, my husband and co director, is that he always has a positive mindset and believes nothing is impossible. He is happy to take risks and it’s ok to fail when you first develop something and just try again. His attention to detail and creative problem solving makes him achieve almost anything he puts his mind to. Along with our incredible team all with their own unique talents, we do create truly wonderful things.
Jamie told the Telegraph & Argus: “I grew up around here and it is an absolute delight to make a painting with the school children that are taught by their teachers that you can walk your own path and can do whatever you put your mind to – maybe even becoming a sand sculptor.”
He added: “I am very humbled to share my story with the children during an assembly and for them to share their aspirations with us with the paintings they have made on the snail.”
We are so grateful to Farfield Primary School for welcoming us into their school.
