Artist burns down Wicker Man sculpture near Kirkcudbright

A Wicker Man sculpture – which has been part of the landscape near Kirkcudbright for years – has been burned down by the artist who created it.

Sculptor Trevor Leat posted a photo captioned “the dying embers”, which showed only the metal frame and some wicker branches remain of the giant artwork.

The sculpture was located on farm land on the outskirts of Dundrennan and provided the backdrop to the Wickerman Festival, which ran between 2001 and 2015.

The 1973 British horror cult classic with the same name was also largely shot across Dumfries and Galloway. Mr Leat told BBC Scotland that the plan was for the sculpture to be rebuilt in 2026.

The huge wicker artwork was a popular photo spot for tourists visiting Galloway, and was featured in advertising and publicity campaigns for the south of Scotland.

However, it was badly damaged during Storm Eowyn in January 2025, with the sculpture almost half of the size it once was.

The remainder of the Wicker Man is now gone and in one comment on social media Mr Leat said: “It’s the easiest way to start again.”

The Wickerman Festival brought a host of acts to southern Scotland to perform on farm land near Dundrennan.

Its 14 editions all culminated with the burning of a wicker figure.

The Wicker Man sculpture remained as a reminder of the festival and also a prominent figure on the south of Scotland landscape.

It has gone for the time being but there are plans for its return next year.