Abstract & Nature, Hatfield House, Hatfield, Hertfordshire UK

Held in the stunning location of the West Garden at Hatfield House, this year's exhibition includes works by eminent British artists Lynn Chadwick and Sir Anthony Caro.

FREE exhibition catalogue for Sculpsite visitors - just print out this news feature and bring it along to claim. (subject to availability).

Held in the stunning location of the West Garden at Hatfield House, this year's exhibition includes works by eminent British artists Lynn Chadwick and Sir Anthony Caro.

Bring a print out of this newsletter along to claim your FREE exhibition catalogue (subject to availability).

The exhibition opens with animal forms by popular Cornish artist Terence Coventry. The very elegant 'Hound' pieces are positioned overlooking the intimate Tudor Knot garden. Behind the Hounds, in the confines of the privy garden, visitors will find signature pieces by Peter Hide. 'King Coil' is one of the key works from the 1980's by this respected artist, who was once a pupil of Caro.

The West Garden opens out into the Shrubbery, also known as the Wilderness Garden, where the larger pieces are displayed. Terence Coventry's 'Boar' and 'Goats' are shown to good effect in the wildflower meadow. Then the formal garden is quickly left behind as visitors venture further into the Garden, with its majestic Beeches and Sequoias creating a dramatic stage for the larger pieces.

A group of stainless steel 'Beasts', by Lynn Chadwick are displayed in a clearing where the changing skyscape is reflected in their flanks. These menacing abstracted forms are some of the best of Chadwick's later works. The Garden provides a superb setting for five of these giants.

In contrast, Paul Mount's elegant bronze 'Uccelli' is displayed in the garden where visitors can appreciate the fine patina of this beautiful piece.

Further down the path, the pieces become larger and more abstract in response to the scale of the Garden. Caro's timeless 'Fossil Flats' is shown to good effect against the Oaks, where the roughness of the rusted steel is in sympathy with the timelessness of the Garden. 'Overtime Flats' is positioned nearby, whose strong upright form is taken up by the energy of the Redwoods. The third Caro piece in the exhibition is one of the rarely seen stainless steel works. At over 8 m in length, 'Double Tent 'is a fascinating form which needs to be viewed in the round.

Charles Hadcock has kindly loaned 'Caesura V' for the exhibition, which towers over the end of the Garden. The formal, geometric lines of the work are in perfect harmony with the strong uprights of the mature trees which surround it.

The 2010 British sculpture exhibition is the third in the series, and provides a suitable prelude to the Henry Moore, 2011 Hatfield House 400th Anniversary exhibition.

Entry to the Sculpture Exhibition is included in the Gardens admission ticket. The exhibition runs from 3rd April - 30th September, 11 - 5.30pm. Wed - Sun & BH Mondays, daily in August.