This sculpture explores the evolving concept of the Rural Idyll, an idea that has been in continuous development since the 16th century. Early interpretations often evoke images associated with painters such as John Constable, presenting the countryside as a place of simplicity, balance, and healthy living.

In the 21st century, however, the Rural Idyll has become a far more fluid and hybrid concept. Rapid societal, cultural, and environmental change — alongside the accelerating pace of modern life, has reshaped how individuals imagine, pursue, and experience rural space.

In the sculpture, cities and towns are represented by the vertical, high-rise forms at the base of the work. These structures act as the starting points for individuals contemplating or embarking upon a move towards their own version of the rural idyll.

Personal interpretations of the Rural Idyll vary widely, shaped by differing values, lifestyles, life stages, and personal histories. This individuality is expressed through the aluminium rod pathway, which winds, twists, and changes direction as it rises. The path represents the journey from urban life towards rural space, a journey that is rarely direct, and never identical from one person to the next.

The route culminates in a small, simple structure at the end of the aluminium line, symbolising the destination itself: a personal vision of rural life that is intentionally modest, pared back, and resolved. Each sculpture in the series mirrors this idea, every work is unique, reflecting the many and varied responses encountered through ongoing research and discussion around the contemporary Rural Idyll.

The sculpture presents this journey as a fundamentally positive and generative process, rich with potential benefits and opportunities. Rather than proposing a single ideal, it acknowledges the Rural Idyll as a living, evolving concept, one that continues to adapt alongside the people who seek it.