Peace Doves at Tewkesbury Abbey - Art installation by Sculptor Peter Walker

Tewkesbury Abbey Welcomes Peace Doves Art Installation by Renowned Sculptor Peter Walker

This February, Tewkesbury Abbey is delighted to host Peace Doves, an extraordinary installation artwork by internationally acclaimed sculptor Peter Walker. This impactful creation, featuring 8,000 paper doves decorated with messages of peace, will be open to the public from Saturday, 1 February, to Thursday, 27 February.

Peace Doves is a large-scale artwork inviting communities to reflect on the values of peace, unity, and harmony. Each dove carries a unique message, written by visitors, schoolchildren, and community groups, forming a breathtaking installation that offers a serene space for contemplation and hope. Bathed in gentle, evocative lighting and accompanied by an original music score by David Harper, the exhibit transforms the Abbey into a sanctuary of quiet reflection.

Bringing Peace to the Community

Tewkesbury Abbey has partnered with community partner The Roses Theatre to engage the local community in creating Peace Doves.

In the weeks leading up to the installation, local community members, schoolchildren, and various groups across the Borough are invited to participate in decorating their own paper doves, adding messages of peace and personal reflections. This unique opportunity allows participants to engage with art as a means of expression, contributing their voices to the collective work.

The Reverend Canon Nick Davies of Tewkesbury Abbey shares:
"Tewkesbury Abbey has been a place of peace and sanctuary for generations, including during the Wars of the Roses when defeated Lancastrians retreated to the Abbey. In a hectic and uncertain 21st century, many of us are looking for peace, whether it be as we watch the news, think about our community, or our own need for inner peace. I'm really looking forward to this installation and I'm excited by the partnership we've developed with so many different community groups across the town and beyond. My hope is that as people participate and reflect, they will have an opportunity to find peace and to recommit themselves to being peacemakers for our communities and our world."

An Artist Dedicated to Public and Fine Art

Peter Walker is a renowned sculptor and fine artist whose works have been displayed in public and private collections worldwide, including the British Embassy in Paris, the University Church in Oxford, and St. Chad's Cathedral in Canada. Over his 20-year career, Walker has developed a distinct voice in public and monumental art, creating powerful, reflective spaces that engage viewers and build connections across communities.

Following successful exhibitions at venues such as Liverpool, Chichester, Lincoln, and Durham Cathedrals, Peace Doves continues its national tour with this installation at Tewkesbury Abbey, bringing with it the spirit of peace and the power of shared hope.

Visit the Peace Doves Installation

Peace Doves will be open for viewing at Tewkesbury Abbey after sunset from 1–27 February. Full details on specific opening times can be found at www.tewkesburyabbey.org.uk.

Visitors are encouraged to explore the scale and beauty of the artwork, take a moment of stillness, and appreciate the personal messages shared by people from all walks of life. Each message on the doves represents a piece of a greater call for peace, making this installation a truly unique experience.

For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact info@tewkesburyabbey.org.uk or call The Abbey office on 01684 850959.

Explore Gloucestershire
16 January 2025

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