Another fine example of Alan Grimwood's no-nonsense, does-what-it-says-on-the-tin approach to naming sculptures (see also: 'Sheep and Dry Stone Wall' and 'Rabbit'), 'Figure In A Pond' was built in the small pool of water just north of where 'Habitat' can now be found and proved a tricky task, but one which Grimwood felt improved him as a sculptor, as he explained in 'A Sense of Place':

​

"I wanted to find out what practical problems I would come across. The influence of the forest and surrounding countryside I felt would be inevitable as time went by.

Whilst out looking for prospective sites I found a pond hidden in the forest and decided to work on a sculpture that would involve a figure in the water. It was a very quiet place and I did not want the sculpture to destroy this quality. The sculpture was the major piece I worked on at Grizedale and after many weeks I finally incorporated a stone head and a carved duck in the figure. There were ducks at the barn who would come and chat in the evenings and these became, with the bribery of food, my models. It was a struggle to site the figure. I first had to construct a platform and sink it into the water where I wanted the figure to stand. I had to put ropes across the pond to steady myself as it was easy to sink into the deep mud. The figure was then floated across the pond to the platform, where I lifted it up into position and bolted ti together. All this is a lot easier said than done. In fact the whole episode was reminiscent of Humphrey Bogart in 'The African Queen', but thankfully I was spared the leeches.

The problems that Grizedale set me have benefitted my work considerably. My figures are much more objective than before and an emphasis on structure has made the work visually much stronger."

​

In 1988, after Alan Grimwood died two years earlier at the age of 37, Joanna Hull built 'Circus', a monument to him, in the same pond. She expressed concerns that she had disturbed the peace of the place, but hoped he would appreciate the sheer spectacle and sense of fun in her sculpture, which, given he made two giant wooden rabbits, one purely for the purpose of being climbed on by children, you suspect he probably would.

​

Also by this artist:

Figure On Rollers 1980

Rabbit 1980

Sheep and Dry Stone Wall 1980

Rabbit 2 1984