Giant sculptures celebrating the return of sea eagles to the east coast have been unveiled at Dundee’s Grassy Beach.
They were designed by current and former Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design students Katie Watt and Ellen Brown, who saw off a challenge by dozens of classmates to win an RSPB Scotland competition.
Ellen designed the 8ft sculpture’s feathers to accompany Katie’s etched interpretation, with a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund paying for their installation on the beach, which lies between Stannergate and the western end of Broughty Ferry.
Sea eagles, also known as white-tailed eagles, were once common across Scotland but were driven to extinction by persecution.
Having been successfully reintroduced on the west coast, a project was set up to re-establish them on the east coast too.
Between 2007 and 2012, 85 birds were released.
The women’s interpretation tells the story of the sea eagles on the east coast, from their appearance on Pictish stones to the first successful post-reintroduction breeding in 2013.
Ellen, 24, said: “My class was given the great opportunity to work with RSPB Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, and Forestry Commission Scotland, to create work that would promote their East Scotland Sea Eagle project.
“Not only was it exciting to be working on a brief with input from outside the art college, it also gave us a great chance to gain insight into a project we may not have heard about otherwise.
“I’ve loved the opportunity to work with everyone and help create something that will allow people to gain insight into the reintroduction project the way I did.”
Katie, 24, said: “It has been interesting to have the opportunity to work on a project that has become a reality. I hope that people will enjoy the site and it will encourage people to use the cycle path and walkway along the Tay.”
The unveiling was welcomed by Councillor Will Dawson, city development convener.
He said: “Ellen’s feathers and Katie’s etched interpretation are an exciting new public artwork situated in a fantastic location on the coastline with the open views up and down the Tay.
“I hope people stop to view the work, and who knows, even see a sea eagle fly by.”
Rhian Evans, from RSPB Scotland, said: “It’s great to see the success of the East Scotland Sea Eagle reintroduction project celebrated with such creative and striking interpretation.
“Last year we celebrated our first successful breeding attempt on the east coast of Scotland in more than 200 years, and the success of that chick is part of the story that is being told here, thanks to the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund.”