'Burst of starlight': Artist explains design of controversial border landmark plan

The world-renowned artist behind a new giant sculpture planned for the Scotland-England border has said it is "amazing" to see his vision is finally coming to fruition.

Fifteen years have passed since Cecil Balmond was chosen as the winner of a competition to design what would become the Star of Caledonia.

The winding steel sculpture, which will incorporate 100 LED lights, is inspired by the work of mathematician and physicist James Clerk Maxwell and his theory of electromagnetism.

At a community celebration event in front of 300 guests, Balmond said that the landmark would act as a "heartwarming welcome into Scotland".

The project began 25 years ago but various planning and financial setbacks have stalled progress.

The design has changed from what was originally proposed, with the height of the Star reduced.

The 33m (108ft) high artwork is expected to cost about £12m to build, with half of the funding coming from energy firm CWP Energy.

It has divided opinion with some calling it "original" but others "truly awful".

Balmond said it was "amazing" to see it get to the stage where work would soon start on what would be a "national monument for Scotland".

He said he had been inspired by some of the country's great minds.

"Simply put, my inspiration came from a look at the list of Scottish scientists," he said.

"Though the brief I had was to look for things Scottish, like Highland dancing and the saltire and all that, my research showed me that actually Scottish brains had made most of the modern world and I thought - for me that is Scottish.

"So I thought I'd make a brain, a bulb that lights up and literally that's what I've done.

"For me it's the brain of Scotland, on the border, welcoming people into Scotland."

He also paid tribute to the late Alasdair Houston who originated the idea of a landmark - along the lines of the Angel of the North - in the aftermath of the foot-and-mouth outbreak of 2001.

He said he originally had two designs but Alasdair had "pushed" him towards the one which was ultimately selected.

"It's a burst of starlight and it will be wonderful - you never see things like that along the motorway," said Balmond.

"In daylight it will sparkle because I've got stainless steel rods connecting to the lights and that will catch the light and sun.

"It's a heartwarming welcome into Scotland - and you'll be sad to leave when you see it."

Lucy Houston, who chairs the Star of Caledonia Trust, said it was exciting to see her husband's dream to "give something back to the community" that had supported them during foot-and-mouth finally be realised.

"I've never lost the belief," she said.

"I've cried a lot, I've got cross occasionally, but I've always believed in the project like Alasdair did and I was determined to see his vision through.

"We're anticipating 200,000 visitors in our first year, and that will be new visitors to the area.

"Obviously we really hope that those visitors will then go into south-west Scotland, into the Borders and across into Cumbria and really help the Borderlands area."

She added that she was aware that the project had its critics but believed it had support in the area.

"There's a lot of keyboard warriors out there, as we all know, and that's very, very difficult on occasion," she said.

"But the community has been so behind this project and that's made it all worthwhile for us."

She added that rising steel prices due to the conflict in Iran were a concern but they still hoped to start work in June with a 14-month build completed in 2027.